Before the 2012-2013 season, few casual basketball fans knew who Paul George was. And it wasn’t until George and the Indiana Pacers went head to head with the reigning champions LeBron James and the Miami Heat that people became aware of how talented George is.
The Eastern Conference Finals was one of the most exciting series in recent memory. While the Pacers eventually lost to the Heat in seven games, this series put George and the Pacers on the national stage.
For all his life George has been underrated, but now he is proving all those doubters wrong. Now, he is often regarded as one of the best players in the NBA. And at only 23 years old, George will be terrorizing the Eastern Conference for years to come.
Early Life
Born in Palmdale, California on May 2, 1990, George came from a family of athletes. His two older sisters were both collegiate athletes. Growing up, George idolized Kobe Bryant. While he didn’t start playing organized basketball until high school, George would spend hours playing against his older sister who played basketball at Pepperdine.
George attended high school at Pete Knight High School. In his first year he was on the junior varsity team and did not see any varsity playing time. In his sophomore year, he was moved up to varsity and also began playing AAU basketball. Some notable teammates on this team were Jrue Holiday and Malcom Lee. George played very sparingly in his sophomore year, however; he earned the starting role his junior year. George was the only underclassmen on the varsity team.
George began drawing attention of coaches in the summer before his senior year. In his senior year, George was the star of his team and he was very successful in both high school and AAU. In George’s senior year he averaged 23 points, three assists, three steals, and 11 rebounds per game. George led the Knights to the league championship and was also awarded League MVP. Despite George’s success, he was not heavily recruited. George originally committed to Santa Clara, but de-committed after speaking with his coaches. George then committed to Pepperdine, but quickly de-committed shortly after. George eventually chose Fresno State, although he held offers from Georgetown and Penn State.
College Career
George started immediately at Fresno State, which was not a strong basketball school. George made an impression early, as he completed a one-handed dunk in his second collegiate game, which appeared on SportsCenter’s “Top Plays”.
On February 9, George scored a career high of 29 points. While George had an impressive season, Fresno State did not as they finished the season with a record of 13-21. George averaged 14 points, six rebounds, and shots 44 percent from behind the arc.
In his sophomore season, George improved greatly. His scoring, assists, and rebound numbers all improved. He also improved his free throwing shooting by 20 percent. Unfortunately, George’s improvements didn’t translate to success for Fresno State.
They finished the season with a record of 15-18 and once again failed to make the NCAA Tournament. George was named to the All-WAC Second Team and finished with averages of 17 points, three assists, and seven rebounds. On March 31, George declared for the NBA Draft.
NBA Career
Many people projected George to get selected in the later portion of the lottery. However, some people had a better understanding of George’s potential as one Eastern Conference scout is quoted as saying, ‘In five years Paul George will be the best player to come out of this draft”. The Indiana Pacers originally tried to trade up to select Derrick Favors, however; the deal eventually fell through, causing the Pacers to draft George with the tenth overall pick.
In his rookie season, George was the primary backup to Danny Granger, although he did start 19 that season. George averaged 8 points, four rebounds, and one assist per game. He was most impactful defensively, as he led the team in steals per 36 minutes. George started for the Pacers in the 2011 Playoffs. Unfortunately, the Pacers lost to the Bulls in five games.
In the lockout shortened season of 2011, George started all 66 games for the Pacers. George also participated in the Dunk Contest, where he eventually lost to Reggie Evans. George improved greatly in his second season and he finished with averages of 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. The Pacers made it to the playoffs, and managed to beat the Magic in five games. The Pacers then played the Miami Heat. George struggled mightly in this series, and the Pacers lost in six games.
In his third season, George really evolved as a player. He was selected to his first All-Star game, and also recorded his first career triple double. He was also named the NBA Most Improved Player, which is a true testament to his growth. He finished the season with averages of 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
While his regular season performance was impressive, it was his playoff productin that really set the stage for things to come. In the first game of the 2013 playoffs, George recorded his second career triple double.
Indiana beat the Hawks in six games, and advanced to the semi-finals where they played the Knicks. George continued his strong performance, and the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. This series was one of the best in recent memory and it has created a great rivalry between the Pacers and Heat. George continued his strong performance, and the Pacers took the defending champions to seven games. Unfortunately, the Pacers eventually fell to the Heat, who would go on to win their second consecutive Finals.
Before the start of his fourth season, the Pacers elected George as their designated player. This was a very unusual extension, but it extended George for five years and will pay out 30 percent of the teams salary cap. Going into the season, the Pacer had high expectations. It’s safe to say they didn’t disappoint, as they started the season 9-0. The Pacers, as well as George have continued to play well, as they are currently first in the East with a record of 46-13. George has continued to improve and was named to his second All-Star game. He also competed in the Dunk contest, in which the East won. He is currently averaging 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The future is certainly bright for Paul George.
Best Pick of the Draft?
While it’s only been four years, let’s see if that Eastern Conference scout’s prediction was correct. The 2010 NBA Draft was very talented, and two of George’s current teammates, Evan Turner and Lance Stephenson, were selected in the draft.
At the first overall pick we have John Wall. Wall is a very talented point guard and was named to his first All-Star game this season. However, Wall has had zero playoff appearances and one less All-Star selection than George. Derrick Favors, the man the Pacers attempted to draft is a talented young big man, although this is only his first full season as a starter.
Two other talented big men, DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe, were both selected ahead of George. While they have been very successful, particularly Cousins, neither have made an All-Star game nor appeared in a playoff series. The only other real successful players from this draft are Gordon Hayward and Eric Bledsoe.
Bledsoe is only just now getting a chance to start while Hayward is stuck with the Utah Jazz. Through four years, it’s safe to say that George is the best player from this draft class, however; there are some very talented players from this class and there is plenty of time left for things to change.