OKC Thunder exit interview: Paul George on the injury, Westbrook misconceptions and the future

OKC Thunder star Paul George exit interview addressed the shoulder, what Russ is really like, offseason plans and the clubs future direction.

Although it was choppy at times in the second half, Paul George had by far the best regular season campaign in his nine-year career. It was all for not, as PG suffered his second consecutive first-round exit with the OKC Thunder and his fourth straight opening-round exit dating back to his time with the Pacers.

Therefore, moving forward George must conquer his own playoff demons, similar to his running mate Russell Westbrook.

In the closeout game, George appeared to play the best he could considering the circumstances surrounding his shoulder. During his final post-game interview when he was prompted about his injury, PG said the issue will be addressed during the off-season, which if last year is any indication; expect George to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Addressing the shoulder

"I’ll address it pretty soon and try to nip it in the bud right away."

Last season George underwent surgery approximately two weeks after the Thunder were eliminated in the first round. He and his oldest daughter both have birthdays in the first week of May. He will likely undergo his off-season procedure afterward.

What was the pain level in the playoffs?

"Ugh not much, at that point."

This line is very telling, the way PG worded it, it sounds like by the time the playoffs began he had gotten used to the pain he was playing through. When prompted about what his injury was, PG declined to comment.

Trying to control the narrative of Westbrook

That is a staggering quote from PG. It’s easy to judge the Brodie from afar, but PG knows Russ on a level most people outside the organization never will. It’s okay to criticize Westbrook for his play on the hardwood, but don’t question his character, unless you know him personally, the same way PG does.

Injuries are not fun

Jeff Van Gundy recently said on the ESPN broadcast PG’s injured shoulder is not an excuse for the Thunder’s failings. However, JVG also said it is a valid reason for why the team experienced shortcomings. Excuses are different from reason’s and being a former NBA coach JVG would understand better than the general public.

PG provided more thought-provoking answers that can be addressed later, but these were some of his most intriguing quotes. Enjoy the other exit interviews and stick with Thunderous Intentions for our comprehensive coverage.