Paul George's first season in California with the Los Angeles Clippers ended in disappointment. LA went up 3-1 on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals, then squandered the next three games. It was a shocking upset for a team considered a favorite to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The loss deprived fans of the long awaited all-Los Angeles Western Conference Finals between the Clippers and LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. But by his side through the whole time was Paul George's wife, Daniela.
George became an Internet target. His self-proclaimed Playoff P nickname transformed into Wayoff P and Pandemic P. His existent image of shrinking in the playoffs exacerbated when he only scored 10 points in Game 7. It didn't help that he and teammate Patrick Beverly were barking with Damian Lillard on Instagram earlier in the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida either.
The small forward opened up about his mental health struggles in the 2020 Bubble, citing anxiety, depression, and being away from his family as sources.
The season didn't go as planned, but things have improved on and off the court as his LA tenure has gone on. Outside the lines, the NBA player is growing his family with his longtime partner.
Paul George's Fiancée Daniela Rajic
RELATED: Kawhi Leonard Protects His Family From the Limelight
Clippers star Paul George met longtime girlfriend Daniela Rajic while she was attending the University of Miami. The Serbian-American originally born in Queens, New York, was working as a stripper at the popular strip club called Tootsies to help pay tuition.
At the time, George, then with the Indiana Pacers, was dating Callie Rivers — the daughter of his former head coach Doc Rivers. The two split after George and Rajic started a fling and she got pregnant. Callie is now married to Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry.
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
George allegedly offered Rajic a million dollars for an abortion, though he denied it. Their daughter Olivia George was born on May 1, 2014. Rajic filed a paternity suit against George, which revealed he was the father. The seven-time NBA All-Star filed for full custody, and the sides eventually reached a joint custody settlement.
The couple started fresh as parents and romantic partners. The former stripper moved to New York to allow the basketball player to be closer to his daughter. They welcomed a second daughter named Natasha George on November 1, 2017. George and Rajic welcomed a son named Paul Vuk George in October 2021.
Rajic transitioned into modeling and started her own swimwear company called Nude Swim. The business was co-founded by Sarah Nasser, the wife of Patrick Patterson and George's teammate on the Oklahoma City Thunder and LA Clippers. Rajic models the swimsuits on her personal social media.
PG asked Rajic to be his wife in November 2020, according to PEOPLE. George, Rajic, and friends shared the news on their respective Instagram stories. The couple tied the knot following the 2022 National Basketball Association season.
George shot his shot. This time, it steered clear of the backboard and turned into a family of five.
MORE: LeBron James' Wife Fell in Love With Him in High School
Want More Sports News?
Get the biggest and best sports news sent directly to your inbox.