Paul George

Born on May 2, 1990, Paul Clifton Anthony George has put his mark on the world of professional basketball as a notable American player. He is currently associated with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Popularly known as “PG-13”, George has a sporting career decorated with significant milestones, including nine-time NBA All-Star and a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. His defensive skills have been recognized as well, as he has been a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team.

George laid the foundation for his basketball career at Knight High School, after which he spent two years sharpening his skills with the Fresno State Bulldogs. His basketball prowess caught the attention of the Indiana Pacers, who selected him as the 10th overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft. This was an eventful year for George, as he later earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.

In 2013, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player, which coincided with his first All-Star selection. A year later, George suffered a significant setback – a broken leg, while competing for the United States national team for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Though this injury forced George to miss most of the 2014-15 season, it couldn’t keep him sidelined for long. True to his resilient nature, he bounced back in 2016 to regain his All-Star status and clinch an Olympic gold medal.

After this comeback, George continued to make headlines in the sports world, firstly being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, where he would play for two seasons. In 2019, he was traded to his present team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Born to Paul George and Paulette George in Los Angeles County’s Palmdale, California, George was raised alongside his two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala, who themselves were athletes in basketball and volleyball, respectively. True to his LA roots, George idolized Kobe Bryant and grew up supporting both the Lakers and Clippers. His proclivity for basketball often saw him at a local park or playing one-on-one against his sister, Teiosha.

His high school years saw George starting as a junior varsity player, but his talent didn’t stay unnoticed for long. The recruiters soon started showing interest in George during the summer of 2007 after he performed commendably in the AAU tournaments. He ultimately led Knight to the Golden League championship and garnered various accolades like the Golden League Most Valuable Player, Antelope Valley Press Player of the Year, and a member of the Daily News 2007-08 All-Area Boys’ basketball team.

Despite these recognitions, George was overlooked by many colleges. He committed to Santa Clara initially but de-committed following the advice of his high school coach. He later committed and de-committed from Pepperdine University before choosing Fresno State. At Fresno State, he had a fruitful stint of two years during which he cemented his reputation as an adept player. In November 2019, recognizing his contribution, Fresno State retired his No. 24.

After spending two seasons at Fresno State, George decided to explore opportunities in the NBA and entered the 2010 NBA draft. He was selected by the Pacers as the 10th overall and quickly made an impression by scoring 4 points in his debut against the San Antonio Spurs. In 2012, he recorded 30 points, 7 three-pointers made, 9 rebounds, and more in a win against the Dallas Mavericks. That same season, he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest and Rising Stars Challenge.

George had to step up as the Pacers’ offensive option after Danny Granger missed nearly the entire season due to injuries. George made good use of the opportunity, eventually finishing the season with averages of 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. His exemplary performance that season rightfully earned him the title of the NBA Most Improved Player.

Over the years, George has seen many ups and downs, including an ankle sprain in 2010 that made him miss four games and a crucial injury in 2014 that led to a significant setback. Nevertheless, each time he overcame these hurdles with determination and resilience, embodying his love for the game and his fighting spirit.

In 2013, he signed a contract extension with Pacers which stated that he would be their designated player. His journey and achievements in the world of basketball speak volumes of his determination, skill, and sheer love for the game.