Paul George Is living every professional athletes worst nightmare. It's considered an honor to represent your country in international competition. It's one thing to get injured in an NBA game, but to be out due to an injury suffered on the international scene Is like throwing gasoline on a fire.
George suffered a compound fracture of the ankle and fibula. This is the same injury Kevin Ware suffered in the NCAA tournament a year ago. Ware was forced to red shirt this season due to complications in the injured knee. There is currently no timetable for his return. At this juncture all George can do is keep faith and be prepared for the rehab process.
The Indiana Pacers were the best team in the NBA the first two months of this past season. The team hit a wall down the stretch and was eliminated by the Miami Heat rather easily in the Eastern Conference finals. Lance Stephenson turned down a five-year, $44 Million dollar deal to remain with the Pacers. He opted instead to take a two-year deal with a third year club option with the Charlotte Hornets. Now with George's injury, Indiana has lost their two best players in a matter of weeks.
NBA players have not suffered many high profile injuries since professionals were allowed to participate in international play beginning in 1992. The injury is a real bummer for the Indiana Pacers organization as well as the NBA. The way players view playing for the USA will change in the near future.
The Pacers finished last season in shambles. However, with LeBron James taking his talents back to Ohio, the Eastern Conference is once again wide open. Now with George sidelined this season's promise is all but gone. The Pacers are going to have to dig deep to put together a winning season.
George's game developed rapidly due to Danny Granger suffering nagging injuries over the last three years. Now Granger is struggling to prove he still has something left in those legs. George is only 24 years old. He still has a bright future ahead of him. It's important that he takes the right steps to get back to 100% health. Don't rush the recovery process.
Mark Cuban has spoken out against NBA players playing for the U.S in the past. His statements about George's injury came as no surprise. Cuban may not to be the only owner that will eventually speak out against NBA players being the main focus of the U.S basketball program.
Mike Krzyzewski handled the tragedy as well as humanly possible. The rest of the scrimmage had no business being played. I would assume this was one of the toughest post game interviews of Krzyzewski 's life.
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