Paul George is arriving to the Oklahoma City Thunder without a prior relationship with Russell Westbrook or Sam Presti.

George has done some due diligence about Oklahoma City and even asked his 2016 Olympic teammate, Kevin Durant, about the situation.

“KD was like, ‘That place will blow you away,’” George says. “He told me, ‘They can offer what other teams can’t in terms of the people and the preparation and the facility, down to the chefs and the meals.’ He was pretty high on them. He thought it was a first-class organization in every way.” 

Reggie Jackson is one of George's friends and he told the newest member of the Thunder that he would love it. Jackson was traded by the Thunder a few months after they were unwilling to come to terms on an extension.

George understands why the Indiana Pacers were frustrated with his decision to want to leave the team.

“There’s no right way to handle it,” George says. “I get the frustration. I get why people are upset. But at the same time, I want the average fan to understand that we only get a small window to play this game and more than anything you want to be able to play for a championship. I wanted to bring that to Indiana. I really did. I love Indiana. That will always be a special place for me and I’m sorry for not holding on. But I wasn’t sure we’d ever get a team together to compete for a championship and that’s where all this came from.”

George can become a free agent in 2018.