Paul George was named All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team in 2013-14. He averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while leading the Indiana Pacers to the best record in the Eastern Conference, doing it all at the age of 23.
There were certainly more steps for George to take on his way to becoming a full-fledged superstar. He needed to get better off the dribble, further hone an improving jumper, and diversify his offensive game by working more from the post. But considering his absolutely meteoric rise from a late lottery pick to Indiana’s franchise player, getting there was a foregone conclusion – the only question was when it would happen.
All of the promise gleaned from George’s first four years in the league was nullified by the horrific leg injury he suffered during a nationally televised scrimmage with Team USA in August 2014. Forget perennial MVP contention or even professional basketball; many wondered if George would ever walk again.
That understandably knee-jerk reaction proved wildly premature. Not only was he back on the court with his teammates seven months after breaking his leg, but George forecasted bigger things than ever just over a year later – and Indiana coach Frank Vogel believes they’re coming in 2015-16, too.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel says he believes Paul George will have the best season of his career.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 15, 2015
Despite his initial reluctance to embrace playing power forward, George has thrived for the Pacers in his new role during the preseason. The 25-year-old is averaging 18.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in only 22.5 minutes per game, with a sky-high 35.1 usage rate and solid 57.0 true shooting percentage.
George surely won’t use that many of Indy’s possessions once regular season play tips off later this month. He’s not that kind of player, and benefits gleaned from his position switch are about far more than what happens with the ball in his hands – from individual and team-wide perspectives.
The opportunities presented to an offense by employing four long-range shooting threats are sweeping. Not only will George thrive in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler and screener as a small-ball 4, but the prospect of being checked by more traditional big men is poised to allow him more space as a spot-up and safety valve shooter, too.
That’s the overarching misunderstanding when it comes to George playing power forward: Becoming a nominal interior player doesn’t mean he’ll be relieved of playmaking duties or become a glorified ancillary offensive option. A player with his incredibly unique blend of size, skill, and athleticism is a walking mismatch by himself, and the Pacers are just leveraging that advantage further by utilizing lineups that will put he and his teammates in spots that maximize a chance for success.
Will that identity shift lead to the best season of George’s career? It certainly could, and he’s bound to improve gradually as 2015-16 progresses due to additional comfort gleaned from not just playing power forward, but acclimating to the regular season grind in general.
It seems like yesterday, after all, that many assumed his playing days were in jeopardy. And needless to say, it speaks deafening volumes of George’s all-around talent level and tireless work ethic that the new assumption is the best basketball of his career – whether he’s able to make good on it this season or otherwise.
*Statistical support for this post provided by nba.com/stats.
