George expects boos in Indiana return 'for whatever reason'
Paul George isn't expecting a warm reception in his return game.
The All-Star small forward is set to visit his old stomping grounds for the first time Wednesday when his Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Pacers in Indiana, and doesn't think he'll receive much love from his fan base of the last seven years.
"Boos? Honestly, I wouldn't think it would be any other way," he told reporters Tuesday, per the Norman Transcript's Fred Katz. "The Pacers fans outweigh the Paul George fans, so that's what I'm looking forward to."
George plans to feed off the boo birds.
"For whatever reason, I'll be booed, but I'm gonna embrace it. I'm gonna thrive on that. It's going to give me the energy to play better."
The Pacers traded the All-NBA talent to OKC in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis this past offseason. The move came after George informed the team he was leaving following the 2017-18 season, when he has the opportunity to opt out on the final year of his contract ($20.7 million).
Many, including superstar Kevin Durant, initially believed the Pacers got fleeced in the deal, but that sentiment has largely changed given how all three players have fared on their new teams this season.
Related: Oladipo 'sick and tired' of comparisons to George
Oladipo, 25, leads Indiana's sixth-ranked offense with 24.5 points, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks points per game (all career highs) while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and a ridiculous 44.4 percent from long range. He's the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Sabonis, 21, is also playing well for Indy, chipping in 12.1 points, 6.5 boards, and 2.1 dimes in 24.6 minutes per outing for the club, which has reeled off four straight wins and ranks fifth in the East.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have sputtered to a 12-14 record while adjusting to their new star-studded trio of Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and George. They're coming off a home loss to the league's worst road team in the Charlotte Hornets, and hope to bounce back against the Pacers, whom they defeated earlier in the campaign at Chesapeake.