Doc Rivers discussed how the lessons he learned as coach of the Orlando Magic informed how he recruited Kawhi Leonard, saying that he cut straight to basketball when talking to Leonard.

"All the other stuff that people think matters in the recruitment, I don’t think Kawhi wanted to talk about that, and so I didn’t. I talked about winning, and basketball...I think he felt the seriousness of me and how serious I am about winning," Rivers told Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times.

Rivers also emphasized that the Clippers needed to remain competitive as they pursued marquee free agents, as he thought that superstars would rather join a team that was already competitive than a rebuilding squad.

Paul George, who was handpicked by Leonard to join him with the Clippers, noticed the Clippers' competitiveness.

“Everybody pulling for one another, everybody elevated their games to be part of that camaraderie. That’s what made it such an attractive spot," George told the L.A. Times.