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The Pacers And Thunder Trading Away Paul George Helped Both Teams Reach The NBA Finals
The 2025 NBA Finals feature a compelling showdown between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, two franchises with a shared link through one player: Paul George.
Both teams’ paths to success were significantly influenced by trades involving George, which set the stage for their current rosters and ascent to the Finals.
Paul George began his career with the Pacers as the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
He quickly became a star, earning multiple All-Star appearances and leading Indiana to deep playoff runs.
However, in 2017, the Pacers traded George to the Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
July 6, 2017: The trade that set up the 2025 NBA Finals.
Thunder get: Paul George
Pacers get: Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo
– In 2019, the Thunder trade George to Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
– In 2022, the Pacers trade Sabonis to Kings for Tyrese Haliburton pic.twitter.com/oAvhpqI22i
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) June 1, 2025
Oladipo’s emergence as an All-Star and Sabonis’ development into an elite big man initially signaled a win for Indiana.
Yet, the Pacers took it a step further when they traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in 2022 for Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton has since become a two-time All-Star and one of the league’s premier playmakers, leading a high-octane Pacers offense.
Alongside Pascal Siakam, acquired from Toronto in 2024, and key contributors like Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana became a formidable Eastern Conference power.
RELATED | Indiana Pacers Make Trade for All-Star Forward Pascal Siakam
George’s stint with the Thunder was short but impactful.
After an MVP-caliber season in 2018-19, George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster deal involving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, multiple first-round picks, and pick swaps.
Gilgeous-Alexander has since become a league MVP and the driving force behind Oklahoma City’s rise.
The trade also yielded Jalen Williams, now an All-Star forward, and other valuable assets that helped OKC rebuild into a juggernaut.
With a core that includes Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder have parlayed their incredible draft and development success into a Western Conference title.
While Paul George’s own career continues with the Philadelphia 76ers, his influence on both the Pacers and Thunder looms large.
Through the assets acquired in trades involving him, each team rebuilt into NBA Finals contenders.
Both franchises took calculated risks and benefited from strategic roster moves that demonstrate the long-term impact of savvy trades.
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