Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m. Wednesday, FSI

Thunder at Pacers, 7 p.m. Dec. 13, FSI, ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY – Paul George says he is happy, but many Indiana Pacers fans remain unhappy with him.

There was no way to reconcile those conflicting emotions, as George prepared to play his first game against the Pacers on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. George was smiling and had the aura of a man at peace after Tuesday’s practice at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s practice facility. But George admitted that the timing of his departure from the Pacers was awkward and that if he could do it again, he would have handled some things differently.

So what message did George have for Pacers’ fans, who are still upset that he asked to be traded through his agent, just six days before the draft, following a seven-year run as one of the best players in Pacers history?

“First and foremost, I want to give thanks to Indiana as a state, for embracing me and my family for seven years of being there,” said George during a one-on-one interview. “I learned so much being there. They taught me so much.

“Obviously, I’m human. Things could have been done a lot better. The process, that whole ordeal could have been done a lot better. I’ll share some of that responsibility. But at the end of the day, I did what was best for myself, what was best for my family. I had to move on. It was the right decision for myself. I’m happy. I’m happy with what the results were.”

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The result was the trade that sent George to the Thunder, in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and center Domantas Sabonis. While the Pacers have high hopes for both Oladipo and Sabonis, the timing of George’s trade request robbed the Pacers of some of their leverage. It forced the franchise to rebuild around a young nucleus, a process destined to take time.

Meanwhile, the Thunder has the talent to win now, and perhaps win big. They got an All-Star in his prime in George, and they have since added one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers in forward Carmelo Anthony, to join point guard Russell Westbrook, the league’s reigning most valuable player.

This is the kind of situation George wanted. He is no longer carrying the heaviest load, night after night, as he did with the Pacers. He is playing for a legitimate contender, with the chance to weigh his options when he becomes a free agent after the season.

George’s happiness is understandable. But after George met with Pacers president Kevin Pritchard after the end of last season, Pritchard and the Pacers’ front office had the impression that George was open to staying. Just weeks later, George said he wanted out, which Pritchard said hit him like a “gut punch.”

George was asked how the messages between him and the Pacers got crossed.

“With him (Kevin) stepping into a new position, I wanted to see what talent was going to be brought in,” George said. “I wanted some assurances of what the team was going to look like. But then it got to the point where it was on my shoulders, with the guys that were being brought in. I didn’t want that burden, not knowing the certainty of how long I was going to be there. I didn’t want to put anyone in a position where ‘Well, Paul steered them one way, and then he left.’ So, I said, ‘I’ll be up front, I’ll put everything on the table, tell them at the end of my contract, I plan to not re-sign.”’

Pacers coach Nate McMillan believes that George’s current situation in Oklahoma City suits his personality. Westbrook is the Thunder’s unquestioned emotional and floor leader. When McMillan coached George last season, the uncertainty about his future was the elephant in the room. George was the face of the franchise, and was expected to shoulder more responsibility as a leader. But when George was a younger player with the Pacers, veterans like David West, Danny Granger, George Hill, and Roy Hibbert were team leaders. When those players moved on, George was left behind. McMillan sensed George was never completely comfortable trying to assert himself as a vocal leader.

“Things changed for him,” said McMillan after a recent practice. “Some guys just want to play. Having a C (for captain) on their chest doesn’t mean anything to them. They just want to play.

“You have to be yourself, and not try to be something that you’re not. I think Paul just wanted to play. The leadership, and the captain, and all of that? Sometimes people put you in that position because of your status. I think his thing was, ‘You take care of you, and I take care of me. Get yourself ready to play.’ Going to OKC, he’s back in that role of – I play. The leader is going to be Westbrook. I can go here and play.”

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Told of McMillan’s comments Tuesday, George didn’t totally disagree. But he made it clear he saw nothing wrong with leading by example. Throughout his career, George said he had done exactly that – lead with his play.

“I’m not the leader in terms of getting on everyone,” George said. “I know what level I need to play at. I like to lead by people seeing me playing at certain level. That’s what I expect out of everyone. You’re not going to look at Paul and see him slacking, not carrying his weight.

“All the other stuff, Paul doesn’t lead and all that? That’s fine. Go grab guys that lead, then. Let me help them lead. We didn’t get it done there, for whatever reason. But Paul not being assertive, Paul being a terrible leader?" George smiled with sarcasm. "I’ll take that. I had a great journey there. I tried to do my best. It just didn’t happen.”

McMillan said his admiration for George as a player and as a person remained unwavering. The two men have had several conversations since the trade, and McMillan looked forward to seeing George on Wednesday.

“He said he hated we didn’t have an opportunity to work together (longer),” McMillan said. “He wanted change. I told him, ‘You had to make a man’s decision, and those decisions are always tough.’ I don’t hate that kid. I respect him. I respect his game. Talented player. Paul’s group was a good group, got us to the Eastern Conference finals (twice). Those were some good teams and good basketball. He made a decision he felt was best for both he and his family.”

George’s talent is undeniable, and for the Pacers it will be difficult to replace. While George’s long-term future is uncertain, as he remains unsigned for next season, fans in Oklahoma City have quickly fallen in love with him, despite the Thunder’s 1-2 start. His jersey has become a popular item in Oklahoma City. His teammates will be supporting him Wednesday, knowing it won’t be just another game.

When George returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse later this season (Dec. 13), that night will be even more emotional for him, and for Pacers’ fans. As for Wednesday, Thunder coach Billy Donovan believes George is ready to deal with the emotion of facing the Pacers.

“I’m sure there’s things that he’s going through, but he’s a pro, and he’ll handle things how he sees fit to handle them,” Donovan said. “I think he’ll be fine.

“I didn’t know him at all (before the trade). After the trade happened, I went and visited with him. Great guy, very bright, very humble, really good person. Fit in very, very well with our guys. I really have enjoyed the short period of time we’ve had together.”

Donovan’s time with George is just beginning. But when George walks to center court to face the Pacers on Wednesday, it will be another vivid reminder that his time with the Pacers is over.