[ad_1] CLOSE SportsPulse: Trysta Krick on why DeMarcus Cousins joining the Golden State Warriors is actually a good thing for the NBA. USA TODAY & # 39; HUI Paul George averaged 21.9 points per game in his first season with the Thunder. (Photo: Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports) [19659006LASVEGAS-RussellWestbrookn'waspassingthepointoftheappropriatemedicalsessionalworldwideclimate-campoftheAmericanteambuthecertainlyhadsomethingtosay Paul George was sitting on the sideline explaining the first time that he decided to stay put, pushing home the Los Angeles Lakers while resuming a $ 137 million four-year contract earlier this month, Westbrook retorted in the bitter manner that he knows. "Tell them the truth," shouted Westbrook to George. "Tell them I'm a bad teammate, that's what they want to hear." All you had to do to remember Westbrook's old story was to take a look at the hall of the UNLV Mendenhall Center. Kevin Durant, of the Golden State Warriors, was one of 23 players from around the world who took part in the Team USA mini-camp that ends Friday, and his presence reminded that most people in the NBA think that he would not have left. Oklahoma City in the summer of 2016 had there been a more synergistic relationship with Westbrook For all of Westbrook's greatness - seven All-Star appearances, MVP honors in 2017 and two consecutive double double seasons - he is as strong personality as you will ever find. But as George discussed with USA TODAY Sports after his group session with reporters, Westbrook did everything he could to convince him to stay. The irony, of course, is that this recruiting effort was not really one at all. At least not in the conventional sense. MORE NBA "It was not" George was even beyond his abilities and was five times supplanted (with his efforts), "said George, five once started with 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and two interceptions per game last season. "It was about him being himself, to be genuine, to be genuine, to be true, nothing about him is wrong, and these are the people I want to be, someone who will say it like that, someone who will push you, someone who will encourage you, someone who will help you motivate, and vice versa. "That's how I am, it was just authentic, he felt like a really strong and excellent relationship around him, he did not bring him to recruit me. It was not necessary for him to ask me to be here, asking me to be part of the team in the future.Westbrook and George have come a long way in one. Season "We did not know each other (before last season)," said George, "I connected with Russ my rookie year." He did a "Why not?" charity game. I went there with mutual friends that I knew and I went there to support, and it was really the first time I really knew him. "Until there, when we were playing, it was a "Hey." Hi, bye Yo, what's up (relationship). It was never really like a "What's good what are you doing tonight?" There was never really a relationship, it was a bit like we knew each other for the first time when we got here. " By the time he agreed to recover with Thunder, the official announcement came for a while - a party at the Westbrook House in Oklahoma City where the famous rapper Nas played. CLOSE Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry on how he prepares his body for a grueling NBA season. USA TODAY Sports The overall surprise regarding George's decision was not difficult to understand. Not only did the Thunder (48-34) underperform during the regular season after George's acquisition of the Indiana Pacers last summer, but his first-round loss to Utah Jazz was the kind of finish which triggered all kinds of speculation. George would like to go out. After all, George made it clear to the Pacers last summer that he intended to sign with the Lakers in free agency. It was an unorthodox move, of course, but its transparency allowed the Pacers to land Victor Oladipo and Domatas Sabonis in the case that sent him to the Thunder. Yet when the time came for the native of Palmdale, California, to follow his stated plan of departure for Laker Land, everything had changed. Yet it's one thing not to sign with the Lakers, and another not to take a meeting with Magic Johnson and Company - or anyone else. "The reason I did not (take a meeting) is that I went to the free agency and before the opening (July 1), I felt really well where I was, "George said. "I felt good in Oklahoma, I wanted to come back to Los Angeles, this story was true, the story was true." But this year, being in Oklahoma, I felt really good in the situation, I felt really good in the future, and I did not want to waste time and take a meeting. And now I am straddling the fence, putting more stress and more pressure on the situation. I felt good about it. I felt good where we were, so I decided to do it early, finish it and start building. I did not have that chance last summer, because I was exchanged late in the summer. So, I have never had the opportunity to start from scratch, to work to get better with Russ and improve with the Thunder. I wanted to attack early and prepare for my career. " Somewhere on the way, with George re-signing and the Thunder seeming worthy of being West Conference contenders for years to come, the book on Westbrook as a teammate has been changed forever ] Follow Sam Amick on Twitter @sam_amick Read more View the thumbnails View the captions Last » [ad_2] Source link
