Watch Lakers Fans Boo Paul George In Return To Staples Center

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

For years Paul George joining the Los Angeles Lakers was widely considered a foregone conclusion. Matters appeared to be coming to a head in 2017 when George requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers.

But as the Lakers refused to include Brandon Ingram in their offer, the Pacers sought out other suitors. The Oklahoma City Thunder emerged, rolling the dice on what could have been a one-year rental.

George wound up re-signing this past summer on a four-year contract, spurning the Lakers without so much as granting them a meeting in free agency. He attributed the decision to Oklahoma City being aggressive to take the chance on a trade, and also the friendships that had been developed.

Wednesday marked George’s first time playing at Staples Center since remaining with Oklahoma City, and the treatment he received from Lakers fans was plenty different than previous seasons.

As George was playing out the final year of his contract, he was showered with cheers and a near standing ovation when playing in Los Angeles. One fan sitting courtside went so far as to wear a custom Lakers jersey with George’s name on the back.

The Southern California native expressed an appreciation for the warm welcoming, which further fueled speculation he would sign with the Lakers. That also was a factor in the fanbase being outraged at his decision to remain with the Thunder, and thus harsh treatment on Wednesday.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com