NBA Free Agency News: Paul George On Why He Chose Thunder Over Lakers

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers headed into the 2017-18 NBA season armed with more cap room than any team in the league.

GET YOUR ‘LABRON’ SHIRT NOW!

The hope was that with Magic Johnson’s charisma, a young roster full of talent, and plenty of cash to spend, the Lakers would be able to land a pair of stars lie Paul George and LeBron James.

One out of two isn’t bad.

George, who grew up in Southern California and has long been rumored to want to play for his hometown team, surprisingly spurned the Lakers just as free agency began by deciding to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. On ESPN’s series Paul George: My Journey, he explained why he made the decision that left many around the league scratching their heads:

“I 100 percent appreciate Laker Nation for wanting me to come back home, for wanting to play in front of them. “I wanted to come here a year ago prior to going to OKC. Unfortunately, I wasn’t traded to the Lakers. The Lakers didn’t grab me. I was traded to Oklahoma. And that has been a beautiful thing for me.”

The trade that George is referring to is the one that took place in the summer of 2017. George was on the block and demanding a trade from the Indiana Pacers to the Lakers, but the Pacers were rumored to want Brandon Ingram or the second overall pick in the draft in return. The Lakers, feeling that George would sign this summer as a free agent, opted not to pay that price, and he was instead sent to the Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

During his year in Oklahoma City, George developed a relationship with both the franchise and star guard Russell Westbrook, which ultimately convinced him to stay.

The Lakers bounced back quickly by landing James the day after George’s decision.

As part of our efforts to help you understand how we handle the personal information you share with us, and in preparation for the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we’ve updated our Privacy & Cookies Policy. The updated Privacy & Cookies Policy will take effect on May 22, 2018. By using our services on or after that date, you’ll be agreeing to our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy. We recommend that you read our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy in full.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com