Paul George has been playing at an All-Star level for the past few years but his play the past month or so has shown that he has improved dramatically since he came to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And he credits it to his weight loss regimen in December.

According to Fred Katz of CNHI Sports Oklahoma, George began the season at 234 pounds.

He likely believed that he might have to play power forward in an unconventional lineup with Carmelo Anthony as a starter. Instead, it was Anthony who was moved from small forward to power forward.

He shed that weight in an attempt to “run with [Russell Westbrook]” who is one of the fastest players in the NBA today. The speed and ferocity with which Westbrook plays have enticed George to keep up with him when he’s moving at breakneck speeds during fastbreak opportunities.

“I’m a lot lighter,” George said. “I can move. I can get up a little better. It’s just, it’s easier.”

The results can be seen on the court over the past month and a half.

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Katz adds that “since he first publicly vowed Dec. 20 to drop poundage, he’s averaged 24.8 points and has bumped his shooting numbers up to 50 percent from the field and an unfathomable 46 percent from 3 on 7.7 attempts per game.”

He is not only playing better, Paul George can actually physically feel the results.

“It’s easier to move up and down the court now than it was to start this year,” he said. “It’s better for me, and I’m lighter on my feet.”

Though he was only chosen as an All-Star because of an injury to DeMarcus Cousins, George was merely the victim of the numbers game where each conference was limited to 12 players only.

Make no mistake about it. George has gotten better, and his hard work has paid off.