Returning to OKC, expect Paul George to receive plenty of love. You can trace back the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s NBA championship to his arrival. After all, his 2019 blockbuster trade to the LA Clippers gifted them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and maybe even AJ Dybansta if things break right in the next five months.

Even though George’s Thunder stint only lasted two seasons, he provided some great memories and a couple of playoff runs — albeit short ones with two Round 1 exits. The future Hall-of-Famer peaked in OKC when he finished third in MVP voting for the 2018-19 season.

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Obviously, we all know what happened with George in LA. One Western Conference Finals trip was the highlight of a disappointing five seasons. Battling injuries and inconsistencies, he wasn’t able to bring home a Larry O’Brien trophy alongside Kawhi Leonard.

George has spent the last two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. Brought in to be an All-Star player, the 35-year-old has taken a backseat to Tyrese Maxey’s ascension into a 30-point scorer. In the twilight stage of his career, he’s proven to be a good starter on a playoff contender.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recalled George’s time in OKC. He was the G League’s OKC Blue head coach both seasons, but OKC’s playoff runs had him at the back of the bench to learn under Billy Donovan.

“He’s a cool guy. Had great years. He’s a great player. Two-end player, great size. Silky smooth offensive game. Aesthetically pleasing offensive game. The ball just goes in the net nicer when he shoots it,” Daigneault said about George. “He’s a great offensive player that also plays defense. He’s had a great year and is playing well.”

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History has smiled upon George’s tenure in OKC. Most Thunder fans have grown nostalgic about his two seasons despite disappointing playoff exits. It helps that the deal that sent him to the Clippers has turned into the NBA’s version of the Herschel Walker trade.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: ‘He’s a cool guy’: Mark Daigneault recalls Paul George’s Thunder stint