INDIANAPOLIS -- In case you haven't been on the internet for the past few days, Paul George is making his return to Indianapolis tonight with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He met with reporters after the team's shootaround and talked about what emotions he anticipated feeling before tip-off.

Of course, he was asked about the way he left the Pacers on ... not so great terms.

"I think both sides, myself and the front office, would definitely have liked to handle things better," he told reporters. "I, for sure, will take ownership of that, but I have no regrets on the outcome."

George said he found some closure in the fact that his former franchise fared so well in the trade that sent him to OKC for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

"When we reached out to the front office, to tell them our plans, our future plans, it was to help them along the way," George said. "And it was bad at first, so to speak, that maybe this trade wasn’t going to pan out. But it obviously did. They got two great, young pieces."

George has already said he expects to be booed when he is introduced tonight. He said the jeers might rattle him a bit before the game starts, but after the opening tip, he'll tune out the noise.

"I’m in my comfort zone when I’m on the court," he said. "I might be nervous off the court about being booed, but being on the court is my comfort zone. It’s basketball. It’s what I do."

Finally George wanted to address the constant comparisons being made between the himself and Oladipo, who recently won his second Eastern Conference Player of the week honors of the season. Oladipo said after his career-high 47-point outburst Sunday against Denver that he is "sick and tired" of the comparisons. George understands.

"I would love to piggyback on what Vic said in terms of being compared to me," George said."I don’t think you guys or Indiana in general is giving him the respect. I’m done. I’m over with. I moved on. It’s Vic’s time. He’s doing great here.

"This is his opportunity to lead a team & he’s being compared to somebody he was traded for. This is his team. Let him lead. Let him start this era on good terms. It sounds like you guys are annoying him with comparisons. Let him live. Let this be his season."

Follow Jim Ayello on Twitter @jimayello and Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon.

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