The Oklahoma City Thunder were not down for long; after starting their rebuild in the Summer of 2019, shipping off franchise pillar Russell Westbrook and the third-place MVP vote-getter in Paul George, many thought the Thunder were in for a long-term rebuild.
However, after a surprise 2019-20 season that landed the Thunder as a top-five seed in the Western Conference, the franchise missed the postseason for the next two seasons before marching into the Play-in Tournament during the 2022-23 campaign.
Now, Oklahoma City owns the second-best record in the Western Conference and has been a surprise team for the second straight season. Owning one of the best young cores in the NBA, which features an MVP candidate, none of this would be possible without "the trade."
After downing the OKC Thunder, Paul George chimes in on who won the famous 2019 trade.
Earlier this week, to tip off the four-game road trip, the OKC Thunder fell to the L.A. Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. In a fun, Nationally Televised basketball game, the Clippers outlasted the spunky Thunder due to George's elite shot-making.
Paul George finished with a dazzling 38-point game on 62 percent shooting with five assists and seven rebounds to go with a trio of steals. After the game, of course that trade to land George in LaLa Land was brought up.
Paul George on the trade:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) January 17, 2024
“Both sides won. I did think it was quite a lot that the Clippers were willing to give up. Their commitment to me is my commitment to them… But both sides won… We knew Shai was gonna be really, really good, but he’s special. In a way, Oklahoma won… pic.twitter.com/ehyYudv8kY
" was not on my mind . I just think both sides won. I do think it was a lot that the Clippers were willing to give up. But their commitment to me is my commitment to them...Both sides won. Shai I think initially when that trade happened, no one saw, we knew he would be really good, but he is special. I guess, in a way, Oklahoma won that trade with picks and a future MVP, so again, great trade for both sides." said the Clippers superstar Paul George.
To think the Thunder got both SGA & JDub from the same trade… Special stuff pic.twitter.com/PQg6sj8QL2
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 19, 2024
Many NBA fans will agree with Paul George that Oklahoma City, in fact, won the trade, but the Clippers had one goal in mind when pulling the trigger on the blockbuster move: Win a championship. Netting Paul George in this trade allowed the franchise to ink Kawhi Leonard to a pact.
As Steve Ballmer builds a new arena and has more money to throw around than the Monopoly man, this trade was worth the price of admission into instant contender status.