PG13 wanted to be a Laker, but move to OKC ended up being a 'beautiful thing'

If the Los Angeles Lakers really wanted Paul George to be donning purple and gold, then playing the waiting game instead of pulling the trigger on a trade when they had the chance wasn't the way to go.

The Oklahoma City Thunder stepped up and traded for the All-Star swingman last summer, establishing a close-knit relationship with George over the course of the 2017-18 season to the point where he wanted to stick around on a new four-year, $137-million contract.

"I 100 percent appreciate Laker Nation for wanting me to come back home, wanting me to play in front of them," said George in part three of his "My Journey" documentary for ESPN released Tuesday. "I wanted to come here a year ago prior to going to OKC. Unfortunately, wasn't traded to Lakers. Lakers didn't grab me. I was traded to Oklahoma. That's been a beautiful thing for me."

George had stated how his goal was to end up with his hometown Lakers, letting his previous team in the Indiana Pacers know that he planned to opt out of his deal to make that a reality. As a result, the Pacers elected to move George to acquire assets before he inevitably bolted, acquiring Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis from the Thunder.

The Lakers, meanwhile, were seemingly of the mindset that they could just sign George outright when he became an unrestricted free agent. The now 28-year-old wanted to be there, and with the ability to surround him with other max-level talent, it seemed like a no-brainer that he'd eventually come on his own merit.

Little did they know that the Thunder and its fan base would make such a profound impact on him, changing his short- and long-term goals. George didn't even grant the Lakers a face-to-face meeting when free agency opened on July 1.

"It's more than just loyalty, it's about doing what I think is right," added George in the third part of his docuseries. "I feel this is the best and perfect opportunity to cement myself and bring a championship where it hasn't been brought.

"They've welcomed me with open arms, and I want them to feel that hype that I have toward what I think we can accomplish there. I want to be part of something that's special and something that I've created. In Oklahoma, I think there is something I can create there."