Paul George shocked the basketball world over the summer when he decided to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder, instead of heading to his home town of L.A. to join LeBron James and the Lakers.
The five-time All-Star has recently shed some light on his decision, claiming that throughout the process, he never really felt that the Thunder were trying to recruit him.
Article Continues Below“Honestly, I never felt like I was being recruited,” George says now, via ESPN's Royce Young. “It all felt genuine, it felt authentic. I felt that was just how they operated.”
This brief statement actually speaks volumes of why George decided to stay on with the Thunder as opposed to taking in all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. For the 28-year-old, it's apparently all about being wanted.
Sure, there was a lot of talk of the Lakers wanting to sign George, but in hindsight, there may have actually been a lack of substance to all the rumors. The Lakers (and LeBron) may or may not have reached out to George for a potential move, but whatever the case may be, it is apparent that for George, it was the Thunder who made him feel more wanted.
As he describes it, the whole process was very organic. Nothing was forced, and it was just a matter of George feeling more at home in Oklahoma. Now, whether or not his decision will pay dividends in the form of an NBA title remains to be seen.