Rio de Janeiro // Paul George's Olympic dream and his NBA career nearly ended in a horrific accident during a 2014 US team intersquad exhibition when he suffered two open fractures in his right leg.
Now he's playing for the Americans in the Rio Olympics, set to finally take the court in a USA uniform in a tournament as he dreamed of as a child. But hopes this is not the end of the comeback story.
“Really the final step in the chapter of this is coming home with that gold,” George said.
“This is like redemption. It means a lot. All the bad that happened that night and now I have this opportunity again to represent my country. It’s special.”
In an August 1 exhibition by the 2014 US World Cup of Basketball team, George leaped into opposing shooter James Harden and sprawled awkwardly to the floor, landing at the base of the stanchion holding the backboard aloft with compound fractures of his tibia and fibula.
The game was halted. George was taken to hospital, where a pin was inserted into his leg. There was fear he might miss the entire upcoming NBA season and might never be the same again.
“We didn’t know when he got hurt if he would ever be back. Not just with us, in terms of his career,” US team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. “We just prayed that he was going to be able to come back and continue with his career.”
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George went through rehabilitation and put weight on the leg in late September and started shooting jump shots a month later. “PG-13” -- his initials and jersey number -- was back in practice with the Indiana Pacers in March and on the court for their final six games of the season.
This past season, George averaged career highs of 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 assists a game. He was 10th in the NBA in scoring and eighth in assists. In the NBA All-Star Game, he scored a game-high 41 points.
That prompted Paul’s fellow NBA players to name him the 2015-16 Comeback Player of the Year in a vote organized by the players union.
“I’m really grateful,” George said. “My peers have been very supportive throughout this whole process.”
However, George is not in Rio as a pity selection.
“He’s here on merit alone. He belongs here. This is not a gift,” Colangelo said. “We’re so thankful that he’s back.”
US coach Mike Krzyzewski says he is back beyond where he was before the injury.
“I think he’s playing the best basketball of his life right now. He’s ready to roll,” he said. “He’s just a very gifted athlete and to see him come back like this, you could play him everywhere.”
George scored 18 points against Argentina in his first warm-up game with the US Olympic squad.
“It was just great to get back out there,” George said. You just appreciate being on that floor. It was a bump in the road. A freak accident that will probably never happen again. It happened. It’s over with and I’m moving forward.”
That means no second thoughts in workouts against the NBA’s other elite talent.
“It’s behind me. I don’t play the game expecting to get hurt,” George said. “I know it is a possibility but there’s no thought in my mind that I’m ever going to get hurt. I play this game because I love it and I just play hard.”
George said he never doubted he would try and return to the US squad for Rio.
“Winning the gold medal is a lot bigger than any other concerns,” George said.
“I did it for the kid Paul George who always dreamed of winning a gold medal. I wasn’t worried about injuries. I wasn’t worried about getting back on the court and how would I fare out there. It’s about fulfilling that childhood dream.”
George’s role will be as a shut-down defender.
“Defensively is where, if I do my job and shut down their best player, our chances are going to skyrocket.”
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