In first season with Thunder, George sets sights on capturing MVP

New team, new jersey, new goals.

He's been ranked among the top stars in the world for the better part of five seasons now, but Paul George has his sights set on taking his game to another level.

After the launch event for the Thunder's new Statement jersey, George was asked by NBA TV's Dennis Scott whether the thought of winning the MVP Award this coming season had crossed his mind.

"Man, I'm going for it," George told Scott. "Every summer I train to do it, and it just seems every summer I add something new and I learn something about myself. This summer I really wanted to attack the weight room and strengthen my body, strengthen my core. I can definitely say that was the next step, to be able to sustain the wear and tear throughout the whole season. So, I'm going for it; I'm going for that hardware."

Of course, George will have some steep internal competition among his new Thunder teammates. Reigning MVP Russell Westbrook - fresh off a historic triple-double season in which he averaged a league-high 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game - is still expected to account for much of the Thunder's scoring and ball handling.

If George is to seriously contend for the highest honor doled out for regular season performance, he'll have to do so at both ends of the floor, helping Westbrook shoulder the load on offense while routinely locking down the opponents' best scorers.