George suffered a broken leg in 2014 while competing for a roster spot on the United States national team for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. He missed most of the 2014–15 season, but recovered to become an All-Star again in 2016, when he also won an Olympic gold medal. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, and played two seasons for the Thunder before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019. The Clippers appeared in the playoffs four times during his tenure, including their first trip to the Conference Finals in 2021. George later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers where he plays as of 2024.
George attended Knight High School in Palmdale. As a sophomore, he began the season on the JV team and was moved up to varsity after the season started.[9] Recruiters began noticing George during the summer of 2007, when he competed in AAU tournaments.[9] Sensing George's potential, his coach handed him a leading role his senior season.[10] That year, George led Knight to the Golden League championship, and was named the Golden League Most Valuable Player, the Antelope Valley Press Player of the Year, and a member of the Daily News 2007–08 All-Area Boys' basketball team.[1] He ended his senior year averaging 23.2 points and 11.2 rebounds.[1]
George was not considered a major prospect by colleges. Rivals.com labeled him as a three-star recruit and ranked him 20th among a class of California prospects that was highlighted by Jrue Holiday and DeMar DeRozan.[11] George verbally committed to Santa Clara, the first school that offered him a scholarship, but he later de-committed from them because his high school coach thought he should keep his options open.[9] After a positive experience attending Teiosha's Midnight Madness event at Pepperdine University, George committed to Pepperdine on August 9, 2007.[9][12] Midway through his senior season, he de-committed from Pepperdine after coach Vance Walberg resigned from the program.[9][13] He ultimately chose Fresno State over offers from schools like Georgetown and Penn State because it was closer to home which allowed for his family to watch his games and because he liked the campus.[14][2]
College career
George played two years at California State University, Fresno, more commonly known as Fresno State. In his first game with the Bulldogs, he scored 14 points in a winning effort against Sacramento State.[15] The following game, George recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort against Saint Mary's.[15] Despite the loss, he made an impression with his one-handed slam dunk over Mickey McConnell that earned him SportsCenter's number 1 "Play of the Day" for November 18, 2008.[1] On February 9, 2009, he scored a then career-high 29 points to lead the Bulldogs to an 88–82 victory over Boise State.[2] In the 2009 WAC tournament, the Bulldogs were matched up against Hawaii and advanced to the quarterfinal against the top-seeded Utah State Aggies.[2] During the game, he forced a career-high 5 steals and finished with a team-high 16 points in a loss against the Bulldogs to a score of 85–68.[16] With a 13–21 record, the team failed to qualify for the 2009 NCAA tournament. He led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in minutes played (1,176) and finished second in 3-point shooting (44.7%), steals (59) and steals per game (1.74).[2] His 3-point field goal percentage was the third-best in the Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball program.[2] He started all 34 games and finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game on 47.0% from the field.[2]
Entering his sophomore season, he was named the most entertaining player in the West region and the eighth most entertaining player in college basketball by Sports Illustrated in their list of the "Top 16 Most Entertaining Players in College Basketball".[17] On January 21, 2010, he sprained his right ankle against Utah State and missed the next four games.[2] He made his return on February 11, scoring a career-high 30 points in a winning effort over eventual WAC tournament champion New Mexico State.[15] During the 2010 WAC tournament, he recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds, in a loss against Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals.[15] The team finished the season 15–18, with George averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 steals while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the line.[18] He was named All-WAC Second-Team and ranked second in the WAC in free throw percentage (90.9%), steals (64) and steals per game (2.2).[2]
On November 10, 2019, George's number 24 was retired by Fresno State.[19]
Professional career
Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)
Pre-draft and rookie season
On March 31, 2010, George announced that he would forgo his final two seasons of college eligibility at Fresno State and enter the 2010 NBA draft.[20] He made his first appearance on a 2010 mock draft on Draft Express a month into his sophomore season. By May 2010, mock drafts such as Draft Express, ESPN.com, and The Hoops Report predicted that George would be selected 12th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.[21] Two days before the draft, Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports wrote an article about an anonymous Eastern Conference scout stating that "in five years, Paul George will be the best player to come out of this draft".[22] Hoping to draft Derrick Favors, the Pacers had discussed a draft trade with the Nets that would have sent Danny Granger and the 10th pick to the Nets for Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and the 3rd overall pick, but the deal fell through.[23] George was invited to sit in the green room during the draft and was selected tenth overall by the Indiana Pacers.[24] He became the highest NBA draft pick in Fresno State history.[24] On July 1, 2010, he signed his rookie contract with the Pacers; a two-year guaranteed deal worth $3.9 million, with team options for a third and fourth year.[25]
On October 27, George made his NBA debut against the San Antonio Spurs, playing 23 minutes and scoring 4 points on 1–5 shooting. In a game against the Washington Wizards, he knocked down five three-pointers and finished with a then-career-high 23 points.[26] George averaged 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists on 45% shooting in his first season, starting 19 of his 61 games.[1] For the 2011 Playoffs, George was one of only two rookies from the 2010 NBA Draft to be in the starting lineup for his team, the other being Landry Fields for the New York Knicks. In the playoffs, the Pacers lost in five games to the Chicago Bulls, led by Derrick Rose.[27] Upon completion of his inaugural season, George was named to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[1][28]
2011–12 season
On February 3, 2012, George recorded 30 points, 7 three-pointers made, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 1 blocked shot in a win against the Dallas Mavericks.[29] George was selected to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest and Rising Stars Challenge during the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend.[30] In the Slam Dunk Contest, George completed a 360° windmill dunk in the dark and dunked over teammates Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert. The windmill dunk is when a player brings the ball below their waist and with an outstretched arm swings the ball into the rim. However, he lost the contest to Jeremy Evans.[31] He finished the 2011–12 lockout-shortened season with averages of 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 44% shooting, George started all 66 games for the Pacers in the season. After beating the Orlando Magic, who were without Dwight Howard, in five games in the first round, the Pacers lost to the eventual NBA champions, the Miami Heat, 4–2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with George making just 19 of 52 field goals.[32][33]
2012–13 season
During his first two seasons in the NBA, George played mostly the shooting guard position. However, with Danny Granger missing nearly the entire season due to knee and calf injuries, George began playing the small forward position and became the go-to offensive option for the Pacers in his third season. On November 21, 2012, George made nine three-pointers en route to a career-high 37 points in a victory against the New Orleans Hornets.[34] The nine 3-pointers broke the franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a single game, surpassing Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.[35] George was named the NBA's Player of the Week for the first time in his career in December, winning three straight games against Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit.[36] He recorded his first career triple-double in a victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on February 13, 2013, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 steals.[37] That same season, George was selected to play in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston for the first All-Star selection of his career. He recorded 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists on 7-of-13 shooting in 20 minutes for the East in a loss against the West, 143–138.[38] George averaged career highs of 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists, and was the only player in the league with at least 140 steals and 50 blocks. At the conclusion of the regular season, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[39]
In Game 1 of the Pacers' 2013 NBA playoffs first-round series versus the Atlanta Hawks, George recorded his first career playoff triple-double, tallying 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a 107–90 win.[40] It was the first postseason triple-double by a Pacers player since Mark Jackson had one in the 1998 playoffs.[41] On May 13, 2013, George was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.[42] George led the Pacers with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks on May 14, 2013, in a 93–82 victory.[43] In Game 1 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, George made a three-point field goal at the end of the fourth quarter to tie the game and force an overtime period. During overtime, Dwyane Wade fouled George with 2.2 seconds remaining. Despite George making all 3 free-throws and putting his team up 102–101, the Pacers ultimately lost as LeBron James drove in for a buzzer beater lay-up.[44] The Pacers lost to the Heat in 7 games.[45] To cap off a great 2012–13 campaign, George was named to the All-NBA Third Team.[46][47]
2013–14 season
George with the Pacers in 2014
On September 25, 2013, the Indiana Pacers extended George's contract,[48] electing him to be their designated player. The extension, which will start at the end of his rookie contract in 2014, is a "5/30" designated player extension (5 years and 30% of the salary cap), subject to passing the "Derrick Rose" test. George had to be elected to one further All-NBA team (at any level) or be the MVP during the 2013–14 season to qualify for the 30% extension. If he met either of these criteria, the 30% extension was estimated to be worth around $90 million over the 5-year deal. If he had failed to meet the criteria, he would be contracted at 25% of the salary cap.[49]
The Pacers started the 2013–14 season 9–0 for the first time in franchise history. George finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in a 99–91 victory over the Detroit Pistons.[50] He then posted 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists during a 91–84 win over the Toronto Raptors on November 8.[51] The following day he scored 24 points and added 6 rebounds in a 96–91 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.[51] For his efforts, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.[51] With nine wins to start the season, Indiana became the first NBA team to start the season 9–0 since the Dallas Mavericks in the 2002–03 season.[52][53] The Pacers undefeated streak ended at 9–0 against the Bulls on November 16.[53] On December 2, 2013, he scored a career-high 43 points, along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, in a 106–102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.[54] The following day, George was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month, the first time in his career, for the month of November while leading the Pacers to a 15–1 record.[55] The Pacers finished the regular season with an incredible 56–26 record. In the 2014 playoffs, the Pacers eliminated the Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards in the first two rounds.[56] In game 4 against the Wizards, George scored a then playoff career-high 39 points.[57] The Pacers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat for the third straight year.[58] For his efforts, George was named to the All-NBA third team, which qualified him for the full 30% extension and All-Defensive First Team.[59][60]
Paul George driving to the basket while being guarded by Anthony Tolliver in 2014
2014–15 season: off-season injury
Players on the US national team react after George suffered a serious leg injury during the fourth quarter of an intra-squad scrimmage on August 1, 2014
During the 2014 off-season, George was named to the training camp roster for the US national team that would represent the country at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.[61] George had been considered a virtual lock to make the roster, but he landed awkwardly at the base of a basket stanchion after fouling James Harden during a Las Vegas scrimmage on August 1, and suffered a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg. After George was carted off the court, head coach Mike Krzyzewski addressed the arena stating the scrimmage would not continue out of respect to George and his family.[62] George quickly went into surgery for the fracture, with a pin being inserted in the leg. While no official prognosis was initially given, he was considered likely to miss the entire 2014–15 season.[63] George, who had said he wanted to play at some time during the season, was cleared to put weight on the leg in late September, and was shooting jumpers in practice in late October.[64] He participated in his first full practice of the season on February 26, three days earlier than expected,[65] and was ruled a possibility to play within a week on March 20.[66] On April 5, George made his return to the Pacers line-up for the first time since sustaining his leg injury with Team USA. He scored 13 points in 15 minutes and made two key three-pointers early in the fourth quarter, helping the Pacers defeat the Miami Heat 112–89.[67] He played out the final six games of the season for Indiana, averaging 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.[1]
2015–16 season
In the Pacers' 2015–16 season opener against the Toronto Raptors on October 28, George recorded 17 points on 4-of-17 shooting and 12 rebounds in a 106–99 loss.[68] After publicly criticizing the referees following the game, he was fined $10,000.[69] On November 6, he scored 36 points in a 90–87 win over the Miami Heat.[68] Three days later, he scored 27 points, including a career-high 19 points in the first quarter, to lead the Pacers to a 97–84 win over the Orlando Magic.[68] On November 24, George scored 40 points and made seven three-pointers, part of a franchise-record 19 by the Pacers in a 123–106 victory over the Washington Wizards.[68] On December 3, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in October and November. George led the Eastern Conference and ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring (27.2 ppg), helping the Pacers win 11 of 13 games after an 0–3 start.[70] Two days later, he scored a career-high 48 points in a 122–119 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz.[68] George competed for the Eastern Conference in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, where he started and was the game's leading scorer with 41 points, finishing one point shy of the All-Star game record set by Wilt Chamberlain (42) in 1962.[71] On March 19, he had a 45-point game in a 115–111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[72] George helped the Pacers return to the playoffs in 2016, finishing as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 45–37 record.[73]
On April 16, 2016, George played in his first playoff game since 2014, as he scored 33 points in a Game 1 victory over the second-seeded Toronto Raptors.[74] In Game 5 of the series, George scored 39 points in a losing effort, as the Pacers fell behind 3–2.[75] The Pacers went on to lose the series in seven games.[76]
In the Pacers' season opener on October 26, 2016, George scored 25 points in a 130–121 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks.[78] On November 1, he scored 30 points, including Indiana's final 12 of the game, to rally the Pacers to a 115–108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[79] On December 10, he scored a then season-high 37 points, including 13 straight in the fourth quarter, to lead the Pacers to a 118–111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[80] On January 29, 2017, he scored 33 points in a 120–101 win over the Houston Rockets, matching a career high by topping the 30-point mark for the fourth straight game.[81] On March 15, 2017, he made six three-pointers and scored 27 of his season-high 39 points in the second half of the Pacers' 98–77 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[82] On April 2, 2017, he had a 43-point effort in a 135–130 double overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[83] On April 14, 2017, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in April in which he averaged an NBA-high 32.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. The Pacers went 5-1 during this stretch and were able to get a spot in the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.[84]
In Game 3 of the Pacers' first-round playoff match-up with Cleveland on April 20, George scored 36 points, grabbed a playoff career-high 15 rebounds and finished with nine assists, one short of his second postseason triple-double. After leading 74–49 at halftime, Pacers went on to lose the game 119–114 to go down 3–0 in the series.[85]
On July 6, 2017, George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.[86][87] The Thunder acquired him in spite of his pending free agent status the following year and George's stated preference to join the Los Angeles Lakers in his native Southern California.[88] In his debut for the Thunder in their season opener on October 19, 2017, George scored a team-high 28 points in a 105–84 win over the New York Knicks.[89] On November 10, 2017, he scored a season-high 42 points in a 120–111 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He made 13 of 22 shots and had nine rebounds and seven assists.[90] After starting the season with an 8–12 record, the Thunder improved to 20–15 with a 124–107 win over the Toronto Raptors on December 27. George scored 33 points against the Raptors and went 7 of 10 from 3-point range, tying the Thunder record for 3-pointers in a game.[91]
On January 20, 2018, he had a 36-point effort in a 148–124 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[92] On January 27, 2018, George was named as a replacement for the injured DeMarcus Cousins on Team LeBron for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.[93] On February 1, 2018, he scored a season-high 43 points in a 127–124 loss to the Denver Nuggets.[94] In the Thunder's regular season finale on April 11, 2018, George scored 40 points in a 137–123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He went 13 of 20 from the field, including eight of 14 3-pointers.[95]
In Game 1 of the Thunder's first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, George scored 36 points in a 116–108 win. He set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight 3-pointers, making eight of 11 shots from long range, and 13 of 20 shots overall.[96] In Game 4, George scored a team-high 32 points in a 113–96 loss.[97] In Game 5, George recorded 34 points and eight rebounds, as the Thunder rallied from 25 points down in the second half to fight off elimination and beat the Jazz 107–99.[98] The Thunder went on to lose Game 6 to bow out of the playoffs with a 4–2 defeat;[99] George recorded a game-high eight assists in Game 6, with a scoring total of five points on 2-of-16 shooting.[100]
2018–19 season
While he still wanted to return to Southern California, George also "loved the situation" with Oklahoma City. He decided weeks before free agency began on July 1, 2018, that he would stay with the Thunder, and never arranged a meeting with the Lakers.[88] On July 6, George re-signed with the Thunder to a reported four-year, $137 million contract.[101][102] On November 8, he had 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 98–80 win over the Houston Rockets, helping the Thunder win seven straight after starting the season 0–4.[103] On November 14, he scored a then season-high 35 points in a 128–103 win over the New York Knicks.[104] On December 5, he scored 25 of his 47 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left that gave the Thunder a 114–112 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.[105] On December 19, he recorded 43 points and 12 rebounds in a 132–113 win over the Sacramento Kings.[106] On December 22, he had 43 points and 14 rebounds in a 107–106 win over the Jazz.[107]
On January 29, he scored 31 of his 37 points in the first half of the Thunder's 126–117 win over the Orlando Magic.[108] On February 1, he scored 43 points and had a career-high 10 3-pointers in a 118–102 win over the Miami Heat.[109] On February 5, he scored 39 points in a 132–122 win over the Magic, thus scoring at least 37 points for the fifth straight game.[110] On February 9, he scored 45 points in a 117–112 win over the Rockets.[111] On February 11, he recorded his third career triple-double with 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 120–111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[112] On February 22, he scored 45 points and hit the game-winning floater with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the Thunder to a 148–147 win over the Jazz.[113] On February 26, George injured his shoulder against the Denver Nuggets which led to his three-point percentages decreasing from 40.2% to 33.8% on 9.7 attempts per game.[114] Despite this, he was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February and subsequently finished the season third in both MVP and DPOY voting.[115][116] The Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Trail Blazers in five games, with George scoring 36 points in Game 5.[117] George had two surgeries on his shoulder from the game on February 26 during the off-season, with the first surgery being on a partially torn tendon and the other on his labrum.[118]
Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)
2019–20 season
On July 10, 2019, the Thunder traded George to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first-round picks.[119][120] After missing the first eleven games of the regular season recovering from two shoulder surgeries.[118][121] George made his Clippers debut on November 14, 2019, against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 33 points in a 132–127 loss.[122] Two days later, in his home debut against the Atlanta Hawks, George put up 37 points in just 20 minutes in a 150–101 victory.[123] On December 9, George made his return to Indiana and recorded 36 points and nine rebounds in a 110–99 win over his former team in the Indiana Pacers.[124] Four days later, George scored a season-high 46 points in a 124–117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, as he and Kawhi Leonard became the first duo in Clippers history to each score 40 points in a single game with Leonard scoring 42.[125]
During the 2020 NBA Playoffs, which took place in Orlando, Florida, following the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, George drew frequent criticism from NBA fans and media for his inconsistent performance. In 13 playoff games, George averaged 20.2 points per game, marking his lowest postseason scoring average since his third season in the NBA. He shot 39.8% from the field, which was the fourth occasion in his career that he finished a playoff series with a shooting percentage below 40%.[126] George in particular was blamed for the Clippers' second round loss to the Denver Nuggets, in which the team squandered a 3–1 series lead, becoming the 12th team in NBA history to do so.[127] In Game 7 against the Nuggets, George only scored 10 points on 25% shooting and failed to score in the 4th quarter.[128] George's dismal performance in Game 7 included one memorable miss on a three-point shot attempt in which the ball hit the side of the backboard.[129] In online forums, such as the social media website Twitter, George garnered the nickname "Pandemic P," which is an ironic reference to the "Playoff P" nickname that George infamously christened himself with a few years prior.[130]
2020–21 season
On December 10, 2020, George signed a four-year, $190 million contract extension with the Clippers.[131] On December 22, George scored 33 points, 26 of which being in the second half, to lead the Clippers to a 116–109 season-opening victory over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.[132] In Game 6 of the Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz, George recorded 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in a 131–119 victory, leading the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.[133] Playing against the Phoenix Suns in his third career Conference Finals, George dropped a playoff career-high 41 points, alongside 13 rebounds and six assists in a crucial 116–102 Game 5 victory.[134] The Clippers would ultimately fall to the Suns in Game 6.[135]
2021–22 season
On October 29, 2021, George scored a season-high 42 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 92–111 defeat at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers.[136] On December 6, during a 102–90 win over the Trail Blazers, George sprained his elbow and missed the next five games before returning to the lineup in a 92–116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on December 20.[137] On December 25, the Clippers announced that George had suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. He was ruled out for at least 3-to-4 weeks.[138] On March 29, 2022, his first game back from injury, George scored 34 points, delivered six assists along with four steals in a 121–115 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz.[139] On April 9, George tied his career best with 12 assists and added 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals in a 117–98 win over the Sacramento Kings.[140]
2022–23 season
On October 22, 2022, George scored 40 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and delivered 6 assists in an 111–109 win over the Sacramento Kings. It was the 20th time in his career that he scored 40 points, including the playoffs, and his fifth as a member of the Clippers.[141] On October 31, George put up 35 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, six steals, and two blocks, alongside a game-winner in a 95–93 win over the Houston Rockets.[142] On December 14, George recorded his 4th career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 99–88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[143] On December 31, George scored a season-high 45 points, along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in a 131–130 loss against his former team, the Indiana Pacers.[144]
On March 5, 2023, George posted 42 points and 11 rebounds in a 135–129 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[145] On March 21, he suffered a right leg injury in a 101–100 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder with 4:38 remaining in the game.[146] The next day, the Clippers announced that George was diagnosed with a right knee sprain and would be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks, ending his regular season run.[147]
2023–24 season
On October 28, 2023, George scored 36 points and went 15 for 15 from the free-throw line in a 120–118 loss against the Utah Jazz.[148] On December 2, George recorded 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and a game-winning three-pointer in a 113–112 win over the Golden State Warriors.[149]
On January 12, 2024, George scored 37 points on 12-of-18 shooting, 7-of-10 from three, 6-of-6 from the free throw line in a 128–119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[150] On January 16, George scored a then season-high 38 points on 15-of-24 shooting and 6-of-12 from three with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and zero turnovers in a 128–117 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[151] The Clippers were trailing by 13 by the start of the third quarter, and George scored 11 out of the final 14 points for the Clippers.[152]
On April 1, George scored a season-high 41 points against the Charlotte Hornets on 14-of-21 shooting, going 8-of-12 from three and 5-of-5 from the free throw line in a 130–118 win.[153] On April 7, George scored 39 points with 23 in the fourth quarter, along with 11 rebounds and seven assists in a 120–118 win with George making the go-ahead bucket followed by a block in the final play. The Clippers were trailing by 26 points which marked the greatest comeback in franchise history.[154]
In game 3 of the first round of the 2024 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, George shot 3-of-11 and ended the game with 7 points with 5 fouls in a loss.[155] In the following game, George had 33 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals with 26 points coming from the first half and a go-ahead corner 3-pointer in the late fourth quarter.[156][157] The Clippers lost the series to the Mavericks 4–2.[158]
On June 29, 2024, George opted out of his player option in his $48.7 million contract with the Clippers for the 2024–25 season, becoming a free agent.[159]
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present)
On July 6, 2024, George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.[160] With each of his previous jersey numbers, 24 and 13, being retired by the franchise, George elected to wear the jersey number 8 as a tribute to Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant.[161]
On November 4, George made his 76ers debut, putting up 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in a 118–116 loss to the Phoenix Suns.[162] George had missed the first five games of the season after being diagnosed with a bone bruise from a hyperextended knee during the preseason.[163][164]
Player profile
NBA.com lists George's height as 6feet 8inches (2.03m), while The Indianapolis Star reported in December 2011 that he grew 2 inches (5.1cm) to 6feet 10inches (2.08m).[165] He entered the league as a shooting guard but was later moved to the small forward position, with the emergence of Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson.[166] Stephenson's improvement as a facilitator and distributor in the backcourt allowed George to play off the ball more often during games.[166] Early in his career, he was unable to create shots for himself and lacked a great deal of ball handle, something he worked on with trainer Jerry Powell during the 2012 off-season.[167] With All-Star swingman Danny Granger injured during the 2012–13 season, George took on a larger offensive responsibility, which resulted in the NBA Most Improved Player Award.[168][169]
George has established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.[170] In addition to his athleticism, he has developed a reputation as a high-flyer by participating in the 2012 and 2014 Slam Dunk Contest.[171] Following the Pacers' win over the Denver Nuggets on February 10, 2014, Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw, called George "the best two-way player in the game".[172] George's rapid improvement led Pablo S. Torre of ESPN to dub him the NBA's most anomalous superstar, while stating: "Has anyone in the NBA ever become better, faster than Paul George?"[167]
In August 2014, it was announced George had changed his uniform number from 24 to 13, giving him the more marketable moniker of PG-13. He then donated all of his old jerseys to his high school in Palmdale, California.[173]
George is married to Daniela Rajic. They were engaged in November 2020, and got married in June 2022.[174] Together they have two daughters and a son named after him.[174]
George is the co-host of a podcast called "Podcast P with Paul George" with actor Jackie Long and AAU teammate Dallas Rutherford, with NBA players such as Jalen Green, DeMar DeRozan, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Alperen Şengün making guest appearances on the show.[175][176]
George signed with Nike as a rookie and had a signature footwear and apparel line from 2017 to 2022. In 2024, George announced that Nike would re-release his earlier sneaker models.[177]
Christopher Emmanuel Paul, nicknamed "CP3" and "the Point God", is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, he has won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals, and led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times. Paul has also been selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, and nine NBA All-Defensive teams. In 2021, he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Paul also served as the president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021. Among the highest-paid athletes in the world, he holds endorsement deals with companies such as Jordan Brand and State Farm.
Kevin Wayne Durant, also known by his initials KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Durant has won two NBA championships, four Olympic gold medals, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two Finals MVP Awards, two NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA scoring titles, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, been named to 11 All-NBA teams, and selected 14 times as an NBA All-Star. In 2021, Durant was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Danilo Gallinari is an Italian professional basketball player who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After spending his first four years as a professional in his native Italy, Gallinari was drafted sixth overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He played with the Knicks for two and a half seasons before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2011. He has also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Atlanta Hawks, the Washington Wizards and the Detroit Pistons.
Blake Austin Griffin is an American former professional basketball player. Griffin primarily played with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and played college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was named the consensus national college player of the year as a sophomore. Griffin was selected first overall by the Clippers in the 2009 NBA draft, and was a six-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. In January 2018, Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons and played for them until 2021. In March 2021, Griffin signed with the Brooklyn Nets. In September 2022, Griffin signed with the Boston Celtics, who he stayed with until his retirement in 2023.
Serge Jonás Ibaka Ngobila is a Spanish-Congolese professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Ibaka is a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and has twice led the league in blocks. Although born in the Republic of the Congo, he is also a Spanish citizen and has played for the Spain national team. In 2019, Ibaka won an NBA championship as a key member of the Toronto Raptors.
Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.
James Edward Harden Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history. In 2021, Harden was honored as one of the league's top 75 players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, Westbrook made his NBA debut in 2008 and became a star as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has played for six NBA teams.
Derrick Bernard Favors is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Favors played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for one season before being selected by the New Jersey Nets with the third overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft.
Patrick Beverley is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroCup. Originally from Chicago's West Side, Beverley played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He spent the first five years of his pro career overseas, playing in Ukraine, Greece, and Russia. In January 2013, he joined the NBA, signing with the Houston Rockets.
Kawhi Anthony Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A two-time NBA champion, he is a six-time All-Star and a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. Nicknamed the "Claw" or "Klaw" for his ball-hawking skills and exceptionally large hands, Leonard is often regarded as one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history, earning seven All-Defensive Team selections and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Reginald Shon Jackson, nicknamed Big Government, is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played three seasons for the Boston College Eagles before declaring for the 2011 NBA draft, where he was drafted 24th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson also played for the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers before joining the Denver Nuggets, where he won a championship with the team in 2023.
Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel is a French professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously played for the Utah Jazz who acquired him during the 2013 NBA draft. Gobert also represents the French national team in its international competitions. Standing at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) long, he plays the center position. He is regarded as one of the best defensive players of all time.
Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a sports analyst for ESPN. He has played for 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oladipo played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers, where in the 2012–2013 season he was named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the Co-NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and a first-team All-American by the USBWA and Sporting News. That year, he was also named the winner of the Adolph Rupp Trophy, given annually to the top player in men's NCAA Division I basketball.
Steven Funaki Paea He Ofa Ki Loa Adams is a New Zealander professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one season with the Wellington Saints, in 2011, Adams moved to the United States in 2012 to play college basketball for Pittsburgh.
Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Lithuanian national team. Son of the Hall of Fame player Arvydas Sabonis, Sabonis is a two-time All-NBA Team member, three-time NBA All-Star, and has led the league in rebounds twice.
Houston Jerami Grant is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft. Grant has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons. He won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.
Anthony "T. J." Warren Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. He played college basketball as a small forward for the NC State Wolfpack in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In the 2013–14 season, he earned consensus second-team All-American honors and was named the ACC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring with 24.9 points per game.
Kelly Paul Oubre Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oubre played one season of college basketball for the University of Kansas before being selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 15th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, who then traded him to the Washington Wizards. Oubre has also played for the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Charlotte Hornets.
Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night.
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