Paul George recently inked a 5-year extension with the Clippers, a display of loyalty that was no doubt a breath of fresh air for Clippers fans.
But PG does have a history of moving around, starting with his departure from the Pacers in 2017 and then the Thunder just two years later.
While we know the chance to return to LA played a big role in his leaving OKC, what was it that forced his hand in Indiana? Likely, it was the failure to land Anthony Davis, who the star swingman himself said wanted to join him with the Pacers.
(via “All The Smoke” podcast)
“We had a top-three player in the league at this time, power forward, that I was trying to get to come to Indy – he wanted to come,” George said. “I bring it to the front office, they deaded it. It was AD. Me and AD talked. AD wanted to come to Indy, close to Chicago.”
Paul George reveals he and Anthony Davis had talks to bring AD to the Indiana Pacers, but the Pacers' front office killed it.
He says this, combined with his own name being in trade talks, is why he wanted to leave Indiana. pic.twitter.com/c74TbCdJ0c
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) December 10, 2020
Davis and George would have been a deadly combo, and likely enough to push the Pacers to the point of serious title contention. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, the Pacers never made it happen and it was probably something that factored into PG’s decision to leave.
Years later, it’s Anthony Davis who has won a title while George is still looking for validation as a top star in this league.
