NBA drama is usually about trade requests or blown 3-1 leads. But sometimes, the messiest stuff happens off the court, and the history between Callie Rivers and Paul George is basically the gold standard for "it's complicated." If you’ve ever wondered why things seemed a little tense when George played for the Clippers, or why certain players were chirping at him during the 2020 Orlando Bubble, this is the story.
It’s a story about a high-profile breakup, a massive scandal, and a coaching situation that would make anyone sweat.
The Relationship Nobody Knew Would Matter So Much
Back in 2013, Paul George was the rising king of the Indiana Pacers. He was young, he was athletic, and he was dating Callie Rivers.
For those who don't follow the family trees of the NBA, Callie isn't just a random socialite. She’s the daughter of Doc Rivers. At the time, Doc was a championship-winning coach, a respected voice in the league, and a father who—like any dad—probably didn't want to see his daughter's heart broken in the national headlines.
The couple seemed solid for a while. They were the "it" couple in a certain circle of the sports world. Then, 2014 happened.
The Scandal That Ended It All
Everything blew up when news broke that Paul George was expecting a child with another woman. That woman was Daniela Rajic, a dancer George had met in Miami.
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The internet went into a complete frenzy. Rumors started flying—some of which George’s camp eventually denied—that he had offered Rajic $1 million to not have the baby. While that specific claim was never proven and was strongly disputed, the core fact remained: George had been unfaithful, and a child was on the way.
Callie Rivers didn't stick around for the drama. She ended the relationship shortly after the news went public. It wasn't just a breakup; it was a public exit from a situation that had become a tabloid fixture.
Life After PG: Callie Rivers Finds Her Own Way
Honestly, Callie Rivers might have the last laugh here. She didn't let the drama define her. She moved on and eventually started dating another NBA player, Seth Curry.
Yes, that Curry.
She married Seth in a beautiful Malibu ceremony in 2019. This effectively joined two of the most powerful families in basketball: the Currys and the Rivers. Now, Callie is a mother of three and seems to be living a remarkably stable, happy life far away from the "stripper scandal" headlines of 2014.
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The "B*tch Ass" Incident
If you think NBA players don't remember the history of Callie Rivers and Paul George, you clearly didn't watch the 2020 playoffs. During a game between the Mavericks and the Clippers, Seth Curry drove past Paul George, scored an "and-one," and very clearly shouted a certain two-word insult at him.
Fans immediately connected the dots. Seth wasn't just talking trash because of the score; he was defending his wife's honor. In the small world of the NBA, these things never truly go away.
The Most Awkward Workplace in History
The weirdest part of this whole saga happened in 2019. Paul George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. The head coach of the Clippers? Doc Rivers.
Imagine being Doc. You have to coach the guy who cheated on your daughter and caused a massive public scandal for your family. Or imagine being George. You have to look your former "almost father-in-law" in the eye every day and ask for playing time.
"It's all about being professional," Doc told the media at the time, basically trying to bury the hatchet.
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They did manage to work together for a season, but the chemistry was never quite right. The Clippers ended up blowing a 3-1 lead in the bubble, and Doc was eventually fired. Some fans jokingly call George the "Doc Killer," implying that his play—or perhaps the lingering awkwardness—helped lead to Doc’s exit.
Where Everyone Stands Now
It’s been over a decade since the initial fallout. Today, the landscape looks very different:
- Paul George is now with the Philadelphia 76ers. He eventually married Daniela Rajic (the woman from the scandal), and they have three children together. They seem to have built a genuine life out of a chaotic start.
- Callie Rivers is Callie Curry now. She’s a prominent figure in the NBA community, often seen supporting Seth or her brother, Austin Rivers.
- Doc Rivers is coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, far away from the day-to-day awkwardness of managing his former "son-in-law."
Why Does This Still Get Searched?
People are fascinated by the human side of athletes. We see them as superheroes on the court, but the Callie Rivers and Paul George situation reminds us that they deal with the same messy, complicated relationship issues as everyone else—just with a lot more zeroes in their bank accounts and millions of people watching.
Moving Past the Drama
If you're looking for lessons in all this, it’s mostly about resilience and the small-world nature of professional sports. Callie Rivers handled a public betrayal with significant grace and built a family of her own. Paul George took accountability for his children and turned a scandal into a marriage.
If you want to stay updated on how these players are performing now, without the 2014 baggage, you should:
- Follow the 76ers' box scores to see if "Playoff P" can finally get a ring in Philly.
- Check out the Curry family's social media for a glimpse into the life Callie has built with Seth.
- Watch the next Bucks vs. 76ers game. The cameras always linger just a second too long when Doc and George are in the same frame. Some things, people just don't forget.