Ever since Paul George entered the media universe with his podcast, he has not been shy to lay claim to some bold takes. However, his most recent hot take about the Oklahoma City Thunder was in the presence of two other podcasters in the basketball world.
George had Gillie and Wallo from the “Million Dollars Worth of Game” podcast on his show “Podcast P.” They all discussed a variety of topics, mainly centered around various basketball discussions and even talking about George’s less-than-ideal first season in Philadelphia.
Eventually, the conversation came to a debate about which team is better between the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder, who made the NBA Finals and lost to the Miami Heat, or the 2025 squad, who are currently in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. George didn’t hesitate to share his opinion on who he thought was better.
Paul George Hails the Current Thunder Team
Despite his sour departure from Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant is probably the best player the franchise has had throughout its history. However, Paul George says he believes that this year’s OKC team, led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is the best OKC team we’ve ever seen.
George went on to say, “I do think, for sure, this team is a better put-together team than that team with KD, Russ, James, Ibaka, just because the role that everybody knows they gotta play.” At first glance, it may seem like a crazy statement considering the 2012 OKC team had three future MVPs on that team in Durant, Harden, and Westbrook.
George explains it well. This year’s team is better constructed with role players all buying into their specific roles rather than the young pure talent of the 2012 team, all trying to find a way to make it work with only one basketball. Had Harden, Westbrook, and Durant all stayed together after that 2012 Finals run, this may not even have been close to a discussion.
George also didn’t feel it was worth mentioning his own teams in OKC as well, where he played some of the best basketball of his career. In 2019, Paul George finished the season third in both the MVP race and the race for Defensive Player of the Year. However, his team would flame out in the first round, losing to Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.
MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft Following Shocking Lottery Results
Individual seasons don’t make combined team greatness, and it doesn’t always lead to success as a team. Hence why George didn’t feel the need to mention any of his own Thunder teams, as while they were some of his best individual basketball performances, the team success was not there.