Kawhi Leonard may miss the 2021-22 season, leaving the Los Angeles Clippers' fate in the hands of Paul George.

He seems ready for the challenge. 

"It's just an approach where I don't give a F," George said of outside criticism, per Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times. "I don't give a s--t. That's just how I attack the court now. Like I said, I don't need validation. I'm my worst critic, and that's the only thing that matters—the only thing that matters to me."

George has taken regular criticism, particularly for postseason shortcomings, but came into his own as a leader after Leonard partially tore his right ACL in the 2021 playoffs. He spearheaded the Clippers' upset of the Utah Jazz in Round 2 and kept them competitive against the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals.

"I've done a good job of that in my career up to that point of not allowing outside noise to affect me, so that's really where the page turned," George said. "The corner turned for me was, I don't care what anyone else has to say. Like, 90 percent of the people who are critiquing me can't do what I do. It's just funny that someone can call someone else out of what they do, what their profession is, and people buy into that.”

George and Leonard came together with title expectations but are two years into their partnership without hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. No such expectations exist this season with Leonard rehabbing his ACL injury, leaving George as the only star on the roster.

The best-case scenario for the Clippers would see George lead them to a playoff berth as Leonard returns late in the regular season and is 100 percent for the postseason. While that is possible, George will have to come into his own as a leader and have the best season of his career.