Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan says star small forward Paul George “has been way more vocal this year.”
George re-signed with the Thunder last summer on a four-year, $136.9 million maximum contract. Entering Monday, OKC is 42-28 on the season, which is good for fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
Billy Donovan on Paul George’s leadership this season: “[He] has been way, way more vocal this year.”
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 18, 2019
It was pretty much impossible for Paul George to be a leader last season.
The Thunder acquired George from the Indiana Pacers in the summer of 2017. Throughout the entire 2017-18 season, George was trying to adjust to his new environment and teammates on the fly. Those two things are easier said than done.
George put up 21.9 points per game during the regular season in his first year with the Thunder. The swingman, though, never looked fully comfortable on the floor. That was evident in Game 6 of the first-round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, as PG put up just five points in the elimination game while shooting a woeful 2-of-16 from the floor.
A lot of people thought George was going to leave the Thunder and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. That didn't happen, as the 28-year-old developed a close bond with OKC star Russell Westbrook and enjoyed playing for Billy Donovan.
This season, George has taken his game to another level. He's averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game. Now that he's got a year under his belt in OKC, PG is much more comfortable with the Thunder and it's showing both on and off the court.
Follow Us
Subscribe