Pacers and Thunder can thank Paul George for their 2025 NBA Finals berths
Pacers and Thunder can thank Paul George for their 2025 NBA Finals berths
This Thursday, one of the more unconventional NBA Finals in some time will tip off between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The funny twist is that this series likely never comes close to happening without the services of one ... Paul George.
As a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, George has clearly had one of the better careers of his generation. But for all his individual accomplishments, the Philadelphia 76ers forward hasn't been all that close to the NBA Finals in over a decade. That hasn't come from a lack of trying in dictating where he's played.
It's thanks to George's insistence on his individual movement that the Thunder and Pacers built their championship-caliber teams in the first place.
You see, when George, who originally began his career with the Pacers, wanted out of Indiana, the franchise dealt him away to the Thunder in 2017. In return, Indiana received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Approximately five years later, the Pacers used Sabonis to trade for Tyrese Haliburton, who has since become an arguable top-10 NBA player and the franchise's clear talisman. Oof.
Unfortunately for George, that's not where his 2025 Finals story ends.
To try and get Kawhi Leonard a No. 2 running mate in the summer of 2019, the L.A. Clippers acquired George by trading five first-round picks to the Thunder as well as a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. You know, the reigning MVP and a veritable top-five player in the league. Oh, man. Double oof. Call it a hunch, but I think the Clippers really regret this move now.
You're reading this right, dearest readers. The Thunder and Pacers acquired their respective best players because both traded away George in less than half a decade's time. Triple oof.
Well, if George wants to feel better about this, he does have a focus on his "Podcast P" platform while being mired on a 76ers team that is kind of stuck in neutral, thanks to his monster max contract. Oh, and the 76ers might try to trade him for Kevin Durant after George had one of the worst seasons of his career.
Oh, wait. Never mind, that probably doesn't make him feel better.
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