LeBron James and Paul George could have been teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, but George was ultimately traded to the OKC Thunder instead. Former Cavaliers swingman Dahntay Jones appeared on PG’s podcast and gave the full story on how he was the one who started recruiting George to Cleveland before LeBron got involved.
Dahntay Jones: “Bron and Kai in the room, ‘Aight, they wanna add that (KD to the Warriors). We gotta get another wing.’ It’s like, ‘Jimmy Butler? uhh, I don’t think we can get him. We need a shutdown corner.’ And I’m in the back like, ‘PG?’. ‘Yeah, but don’t nobody know him.’ I’m like, ‘That’s my man.’ In the back, they going like, ‘Oh PG would be dope.’ I said, ‘I’m a free agent, so I could call him.’ I was like, ‘PG, what’s up baby? You happy?’ He’s like, ‘I think I’mma try.’ I was like, ‘Bro, you ain’t seen these Finals. These Finals is where it’s at.’ And then PG hit me like two or three days later, ‘Bro what were you talking about?’
Dahntay then revealed that Kyrie Irving’s desire to leave the Cavaliers became public after that conversation, as Cleveland was looking to trade him away.
Dahntay Jones: “PG was like, ‘I competed against him but I never really spoke to Bron.’ I was like, ‘Y’all would be perfect. Bron’s a great dude and you’re good people. Honestly and truthfully, there are things you could learn from Bron because you’re one of them ones, but you’re climbing.’ I was selling like shoe sales, all this stuff is gonna increase.
Paul George: “Yeah he was selling like a motherf***er. Regardless of the battles we have had, I still look at him like that’s Bron!
Dahntay Jones: “Honestly and truthfully, Bron was a fan of PG too. They don’t know it. (One day) it was like, ding dong, ‘Bron I’m coming over. It’s me and PG, let’s have some lunch in the backyard.’ We just chopped it up and then you get to see two people on the same trajectory of greatness.”
PG almost joined LeBron in Cleveland, and no one had more influence on it than Dahntay Jones 👀
More on the new episode premiering NOW: https://t.co/2Evze1gfZA pic.twitter.com/FCnLcldi4i
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) February 5, 2024
This is an incredible ‘what-if?’ scenario to ponder about. James’ final season in Cleveland was one where he stood no chance of winning the title over the Golden State Warriors without Kyrie Irving. If the Cavs managed to acquire Paul George instead of Isaiah Thomas, LeBron’s inevitable departure from the Lakers could have been delayed by a season or two.
The Lakers pursued George as well for a potential co-star next to LeBron, but George extended his contract to stay with the OKC Thunder before fetching one of the largest trade packages in league history to join the Clippers in 2019.
Paul George Reflects On How Meeting LeBron Changed His Life
Even though all modern NBA players are LeBron’s peers, almost the entire league grew up watching LeBron. This includes George, who was drafted in 2010 and is one of the older players in the NBA now.
George revealed how that meeting with LeBron influenced his luxurious tastes in life.
“I didn’t know it could actually come to life. After the meeting, we went to his crib, and Bron sold to me li,e ‘We’re gonna try and make this happen.’ Aside from that, that meeting alone, you know Bron, chef and all. After that, ‘Yo, I need a chef’. Good wine, this is a different lifestyle. My whole life changed after that, I ain’t gonna lie.”
George and James have been rivals for the last five years on the Clippers and Lakers. LeBron got one of this season’s best highlights when he posterized George in a game. However, George’s Clippers are 34-15 and looking like title contenders while LeBron’s Lakers are 27-25 and fighting for a playoff spot.
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