Indiana Pacers forward Paul George is still working his way back from a devastating leg injury that he suffered during a USA Basketball scrimmage over the summer. Many have assumed that the 24-year-old’s days of playing internationally are now over, but that is not the case.
George is unsure if he will return to the Pacers this season, but he is confident he will be back playing again this summer. Believe it or not, he intends to participate in Team USA’s mini-camp.
“I’m in,” George told NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner earlier this week. “Of course.”
Pacers fans will likely shudder when they hear that Team USA’s mini-camp this summer will include another exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV’s campus — the same venue where George snapped his leg back in August. The stanchion under the basket that he hit his leg on has since been moved further from the court.
“The day it happened, right after, I told them I looked forward to continuing on with USA basketball,” George said of the injury.
If you read the way George described his injury after it happened, you can understand why people are surprised he would risk competing with Team USA again. That said, it was a freak accident that could have happened to anyone during any game.
Shortly after George’s injury, another NBA superstar decided to take his name out of consideration for the FIBA World Cup of Basketball. That was hardly a coincidence. George’s injury may have scared other players off, but he’s not going to let it affect his career goals.
H/T Ball Don’t Lie
