OKC Thunder: Paul George is better than we think he is

Much maligned over the years, Paul George reminded the league Wednesday that the best version of himself is still an elite player in this league.

Paul George entered the league as a lightly-hyped 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft taken by the Indiana Pacers. Over the course of seven seasons in Indy, including two conference finals appearances, he slowly emerged as a budding star, the future face of the league and a possible overtaker to LeBron James‘ throne.

As is the case with most superstars, expectations began to rise for PG, but after consecutive first round playoff exits in 2016 and 2017, the ceiling seemed to be lowered for a guy who had extreme amounts of talent on both ends but may not have possessed that special internal something that separates the true greats from the rest.

Then, he was shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a place many believed would help the five-time All-Star, alleviating some of the pressure with a co-star in Russell Westbrook who garners much of the spotlight in a city not known for its exposure to the national media.

Then there was OKC’s first round matchup with the Utah Jazz last April, one that ended in defeat, and also one where George scored just five points in the elimination Game 6 on 2-of-16 shooting.

Getting him to commit to the Thunder for the next four seasons was a win for the organization, but nobody was really convinced he could help push Oklahoma City over the top after a bevy of evidence suggested otherwise.

However, once the 2018-19 season kicked off, PG-13 looked determined to prove his worth. So far, not only had he averaged 23.2 points per game heading into Wednesday night, but he was posting career highs in rebounds, assists and steals.

Then Wednesday night came, and a statement along with it. Against the Brooklyn Nets, George finished with 47 points — one off his NBA best — including 25 in the final frame and the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds. He also notched 15 rebounds, helping OKC come back from a 23-point deficit to steal a two-point victory on the road.

When creating a list of the top players in the NBA, George likely doesn’t crack the top-10 for most, but take a moment to think about his skill-set as a way to realize just how great this man is.

His incredible athleticism has led to some ridiculous posters. He can create off the dribble and get all the way to the rim or pull up from anywhere on the court with his silky smooth jumper.

Then there’s his defense. George has been selected to three All-Defensive teams in his career and possesses the length and tenacity to make things difficult for even the most gifted of scorers. Simply put, he’s one of the best two-way players in the league.

So much praise is — deservedly — drenched upon two-way greats such as Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard. PG is debatably at their level, but at worst he’s not very far behind.

He may have to step up come postseason time to get others to truly change their perception of him, but in terms of sheer talent and capabilities — as his performance against the Nets and start to the season can attest — Paul George is elite, and it’s time the NBA world started acknowledging it.