Coming into the matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, Paul George and his upcoming free agency was a hot topic of discussion. George is rumored to favor the Lakers once he hits the free-agent market this summer with a desire to play for his hometown team.

With George consistently linked to the Lakers organization, the Los Angeles native got an ovation from the crowd at the Staples Center once his name was announced in the starting lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. George talked about getting a loud ovation from the Lakers faithful after the game.

“It was awesome for one,” George said of the reaction from the Los Angeles fanbase. “Just being home. Being in front of friends and family. Just the respect. The love. The recruitment. It was awesome to get that love. That energy.”

There's still a lot of basketball to be played before George will be forced to make a decision on where he wants to play long-term in free agency. From now until July 1 he'll be debating the pros and cons while weighing his options, but Los Angeles clearly has a special place in his heart.

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“This is home,” George said of Los Angeles. “It's comfortable for me. It's great to be home and play in front of friends.”

In the meantime, the Thunder will try to continue making progress in an effort to build a perennial title contender in Oklahoma City. It was a rough start to the season for George and company as the new dynamic trio struggled to coexist until recently with the team now sitting at 21-17.

As for the Lakers, the team has hit a rough patch in their season with 12 losses in their last 13 games. Los Angeles has shown flashes of brilliance led by Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball at times, but have really struggled with their consistency resulting in an 11-26 record thus far.

On Friday, the Lakers will try to snap an eight-game skid as they'll host the Charlotte Hornets at the Staples Center. Ball is expected to return in that game after a five-game absence with a shoulder sprain.