Russell Westbrook had a big impact on Paul George's decision to stay with OKC
Many were surprised by Paul George’s decision to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the appeal of playing for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, All-Star forward Paul George decided to commit himself to Oklahoma City for the long term by signing a four-year, $137 million deal with the Thunder.
But in Part 3 of his documentary, he explained all the things that went into the big decision. It turns out that Russell Westbrook had a pretty big impact. He gave a better insight into his relationship with Westbrook, and he sees Westbrook as a friend and a teammate. George basically said Westbrook is a great human being.
“Aside from being one of the best human beings I’ve been around, (Russell Westbrook’s) approach to the game is what guys who want to be a part of and build something with.”
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Paul George has a lot of confidence in Westbrook and himself as a dynamic duo. George truly believes that they have a real chance to win a title next season:
George expressed his confidence in Westbrook. With him, George believes that he has a real chance to win a title:" Russ is somebody I can win with and vice versa. So I think with this decision, that makes me much more comfortable knowing I got a shot and a real chance to win with one of the best players in the league.”
One other important aspect of why he chose to stay with OKC is because he feels the city embraced him in the right manner. "I’m happy. I’m more than happy. This is the city and community I chose, and the place I decided to play. And I’m excited. I’m excited to go on this journey and really go all-in on this experience.”
“It’s more than just loyalty, it’s about doing what I think is right," George said. "I feel this is the best and perfect opportunity to cement myself and bring a championship where it hasn’t been brought. They’ve welcomed me with open arms, and I want them to feel that hype that I have toward what I think we can accomplish there. I want to be part of something that’s special and something that I’ve created. In Oklahoma, I think there is something I can create there.
