George relates own ‘Rise’ tale

MANILA, Philippines - Indiana Pacers star Paul George suffered a career-threatening injury while training with the US team bound for the FIBA World Cup last year but instead of wallowing in despair over the fractures in his right tibia and fibula, battled back courageously to play the final six games of the NBA regular season in a bid to make the playoffs.

George, 25, went down in a bizarre accident during a scrimmage in Las Vegas last August and videos of the incident showed his leg snapped at a right angle. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and within two months, started to put weight on his leg in rehab. By October, George began to shoot jumpers in the gym. And last Feb. 26, he reported for his first full practice with the Pacers. 

With Indiana in the thick of the fight for a playoff berth, George refused to sit out the entire season and made a valiant comeback against Miami last April 5. He scored 13 points in 15:31 minutes off the bench. The Pacers took George’s cue to win five in a row then bowed to Memphis in their last game to finish with a 38-44 record, tying Brooklyn for the eighth and final Eastern Conference slot in the playoffs. Because the Nets beat Indiana in two of three games during the regular season, the Pacers lost in the tiebreak. A win over Memphis would’ve advanced Indiana instead of Brooklyn. George never started in those six games, averaging 8.8 points and 15.2 minutes but shot a career-high 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. The previous season, he averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 36.2 minutes in 80 games.

George’s recovery was a story he shared during his recent Manila visit to promote the Nike Rise program that aims to introduce basketball innovations and inspire players of the next generation. He kicked off the Nike Rise Tour with a stop in Beijing before landing here. Others to follow on tour around China, Southeast Asia and Europe are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.   

George said the injury was a shocker. “I never thought I’d be laying with the view that I had but you know, it happens in this sport,” he told The STAR. “Injuries happen. It’s about how I overcome this injury instead of unraveling the whole story. A lot of people were in my corner. I’ve had so many people reach out to me and give me confidence. Kobe reached out to me. He just told me it’s a brighter day, just attack rehab the same way you  attack practice.”

While the dream of representing the US at the FIBA World Cup fizzled out, George said he’s determined to play at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year. “That’s been the biggest dream of mine and a big goal,” he said referring to wearing the US colors. “I won’t let it stop me because of my injury. It’s almost like I’m doing this for my leg.”

George said he has a ton of Rise stories to tell like when he was an NBA rookie in 2010-11, he took on the challenge of defending MVP Derrick Rose and when he had to step up after Pacers gunner Danny Granger was sidelined in 2012-13. Now, George said he’s ready to take over the mantle of leadership at Indiana as the Pacers’ go-to guy with Roy Hibbert and David West gone. The Pacers will open next season with recent acquisitions Monta Ellis, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger and rookies Myles Turner and Joe Young.

On the Rise program that Nike launched here, George said it’s an opportunity of a lifetime for the 24 kids chosen from over 800 who showed up for tryouts in Dagupan, Manila, Cebu and Davao. The players are now being trained for six weeks at the newly opened House of Rise on Sheridan Street and provided access to Nike technology.

“I think it’s huge for them,” said George. “It’s another step in their improvement. The kids have to have a high level of confidence. The higher level you go, the more confident individuals are. They’ve got to have that confidence. They’ve got to build on it. Being (with Nike Rise) adds to their confidence. Not only are they around great talent and great coaches, they have an opportunity to be coached by legends in Philippine basketball, to be with coach Chot Reyes.”

George said he’s out to reclaim his position of prominence as an NBA All-Star. “I’m working even harder before a game just because I love to outperform whomever I’m matched up against,” he said. “A lot of it is mental toughness. I spend a lot of time preparing, watching film. Sometimes, you’re guarding LeBron, KD and James Harden, you’re going to guard the league’s best players. There are going to be plays where they make you look silly, that’s part of the game. You try to live with that as much as possible and try to get the best of your matchup.”

Asked to name his five greatest basketball players ever, George led off with Shaquille O’Neal. “I don’t want this to be too far out there,” he chuckled. “I’m young. I won’t bring up old school guys. That wasn’t my era. I didn’t see them play live. I’ve got to go with Shaq, Michael Jordan, of course, Kobe, LeBron (James) whom I think will go down as one of the best players who ever played this game and Larry Bird.”