George’s words prompted some criticism around his colleagues, who believe he’s yet to prove that he’s a top-tier player rather than just an All-Star. And, according to Los Angeles Lakers’ veteran Jared Dudley, that motivated them last season:

“We hear some of those guys talking about how they’re the team to beat in LA.It’s fine if Kawhi (Leonard) says stuff like that. He’s defending a championship. We don’t trip if someone like Patrick Beverley is talking trash; that’s how he feeds his family. We get it. We respect the hustle,” he said on his mini-book.

“But we think it’s disrespectful for Paul George, who hasn’t won, to put himself on the level of Bron (James) and AD (Anthony Davis). This motivates us. When we see those guys around the compound, we don’t really kick it with them. The one exception of course is Markieff, whose twin brother, Marcus, is on the Clippers. This probably keeps tensions from boiling over,” he concluded.

Paul George Claps Back At Jared Dudley

Paul George, however, didn’t even know who was the one who had said all that stuff. When asked about it, he just said“God bless him. God bless you, Jared Dudley. I don’t know what it is. Dudes love throwing my name in stuff, but god bless you, Jared,” looking completely unfazed by the news.

Tyronn Lue Rips Dudley: ‘Who Cares?’

But perhaps the best response to Dudley’s criticism came from Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. Lue held back his NSFW thoughts and summed it up with a quick answer: “Who cares?”

“A book? Jared Dudley? … I know I can’t cuss on here so I won’t, but who cares? Just be who you are, play your game. Who cares what people say?” Lue said.

Well, that pretty much sums it up. Paul George is a top-10 player in the league, while Jared Dudley is – and has always been – a bottom-of-the-bench kind of guy. He’s talking a lot now that he – barely – played for a championship team, even though he went scoreless in the playoffs. So yeah, George shouldn’t mind what he has to say. At all.

As a matter of fact, the 14-year veteran recently published a mini-book called ‘Battle of LA’. There, he goes into deep detail about the rivalry between theLakers and Los Angeles Clippers, giving his input on his colleagues and rivals.

There, he took the liberty of completely ripping Clippers’ star Paul George, claiming that the Lakers felt like he was disrespectful for considering himself one of the best players in the world because he’s yet to prove himself.

Jared Dudley Rips Paul George In His New Book

Dudley says that there are levels to everything and that, even though the Lakers aren’t thinking about other teams, Paul George’s attitude motivated them and fueled their fire throughout last season:

(Transcript via Silver Screen & Roll)

“We don’t talk to people on other teams. As far as we’re concerned, our squad is the only squad. We know that there are some real feelings regarding the Clippers. It’s more than just battle-for-LA stuff, though that’s part of it.

We hear some of those guys talking about how they’re the team to beat in LA. It’s fine if Kawhi (Leonard) says stuff like that. He’s defending a championship. We don’t trip if someone like Patrick Beverley is talking trash; that’s how he feeds his family. We get it. We respect the hustle.

But we think it’s disrespectful for Paul George, who hasn’t won, to put himself on the level of Bron (James) and AD (Anthony Davis). This motivates us. When we see those guys around the compound, we don’t really kick it with them. The one exception of course is Markieff, whose twin brother, Marcus, is on the Clippers. This probably keeps tensions from boiling over.”

Well, Jared Dudley sure knows a thing or two about talking a big game and not backing it up on the court. He’s posted career averages of 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Also, he averaged 1.5 points per game during the Lakers championship season, not to mention he went scoreless in the playoffs, so I don’t think Paul George is too worried about what he has to say or not.