Report: Paul George to miss 9-12 months from leg injury
By Sam Richmond
Paul George will likely miss the next 9-12 months due to the gruesome leg injury (GIF here) he suffered during Team USA’s Blue and White scrimmage on Friday, according to ESPN’s Dr. Michael Kaplan.
Michael Kaplan estimating 9-12 months for recovery for PG
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) August 2, 2014
The injury occurred at the start of the fourth quarter while George was attempting to defend a James Harden layup off of a fastbreak. George’s leg buckled immediately after he landed. Team USA coach Mike Kzyzewski called off the rest of the game following the injury.
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If Kaplan’s timetable is true, George will miss the entire 2014-15 NBA season, an enormous blow to the Indiana Pacers.
George emerged as a star player last season, averaging 21.7 points and 6.8 rebounds throughout the year and leading Indiana to its second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
With Lance Stephenson signing with the Charlotte Bobcats and George’s injury, the Pacers are in danger of being a non-playoff team a season after finishing as the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.
Pacers president Larry Bird released a statement following the injury (via the Indianapolis Star).
"“We are aware of the injury sustained by Paul George in Friday night’s Team USA game in Las Vegas and we are obviously greatly concerned. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with Paul. We are still gathering details and will have an updated statement Saturday.”"
The Pacers selected George with the No. 10 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He has been selected to two all-star teams and was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013.