Paul George Says Thunder Had 'No Plan' For Carmelo Anthony

Paul George is setting the record straight on what really went wrong during Carmelo Anthony’s short-lived stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Speaking on the All the Smoke podcast, George revealed that the team’s struggles weren’t on Melo, but rather on head coach Billy Donovan, who failed to come up with a game plan that included the 10-time All-Star. According to George, Donovan had things mapped out for just two stars, himself and Russell Westbrook, and left Anthony to figure things out on the fly.

“Melo sacrificed. Melo wasn’t the issue,” said George. “Billy had a plan for Russ and I, then right at the last minute, we got Carmelo. So now Billy’s like, ‘I don’t know how to incorporate him. Y’all were my two guys. Melo’s just gonna have to find his way.’”

It wasn't long ago when teams were still aspiring to bring stars together and form a Warriors-like dynasty, but the 2017-18 Thunder became an example of how that formula could backfire. That season, despite the top-heavy roster, they went 48-34 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, Anthony was blamed for the failure and was exiled to the Rockets.

Carmelo Anthony is an NBA legend, 10x All-Star, and Hall of Famer who made his mark in the mid-2000s and 2010s. After a falling out with then-team President Phil Jackson, he joined the Thunder to form a “big three” with Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Anthony was only on the Thunder for a brief time (78 games), and it marked the beginning of his drastic decline.

In seven years with the Knicks, where he averaged 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, Anthony ascended to legendary status, but he was relegated to a minimal role with the Thunder, and his game never recovered. Now, Paul George is saying that it wasn’t entirely his fault.

He averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 40.4% shooting in 32.1 minutes per game. Melo’s biggest struggle was efficiency, and he never looked as comfortable within OKC’s offense as he did during his Knicks prime.

According to George and Anthony himself, the coaching staff never properly utilized his game, nor did they help him find his fit. Head coach Bill Donovan restricted his freedom and had him playing more as a spot-shooter than as a proper star and NBA veteran.

Similar issues have plagued other “superteams” before, but the inefficiency was enough to tear that Thunder squad apart. George and Westbrook continued their partnership for another season, and it was years before Anthony was able to properly redeem himself.

For Carmelo Anthony, the 2017-18 season was the beginning of an unfair narrative: that he couldn’t adapt, wouldn’t sacrifice, or wasn’t built to thrive as a role player. But if Paul George’s story is true, Anthony never had the chance to prove himself in the first place. With no clear plan and little structural support, he was fighting an uphill battle from the start.

More than just a reflection on the Thunder, George’s comments highlight a broader issue in the NBA: how coaching staffs handle star integrations and expectations. Big names don’t guarantee big wins, and without proper roles, chemistry, and accountability, even the most talented rosters can crumble. In Melo’s case, the blame may have fallen on the wrong shoulders all along.