Paul George wanted to sign with Lakers … then the Pacers traded him

While speaking to ESPN's The Undefeated , the star forward and California native revealed he would have wound up in Los Angeles had the Pacers not traded him to the Thunder last year.

"It was 50-50 on deciding whether I wanted to come back home or if it was smarter to be in the situation I am in now," George said. "But it wasn't overstated. I wanted to play in L.A. That is where I wanted to go. Had that trade never went down, had I played one more year in Indy, I would have been in a Lakers uniform."

Once he arrived in Oklahoma City, however, George connected with the team, particularly Russell Westbrook. He then signed a four-year contract extension worth $137 million in July.

"Going toward the summer and going toward free agency, I kind of had my mind made up talking with the team, talking with Russ and talking with the front-office," George said. "I kind of felt good where we were at. Last [season], I didn't get a chance to start with this team fresh. I got traded late. So, I picked up things late with the team. I wanted to get to it right away this time and start creating early."