The 10 Greatest Moments of Paul George’s Career

There are many sayings about how a greater appreciation can grow out of distance: “Absence makes the heart grown fonder,” for example, or “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”

When it comes to the case of the injured Paul George, the star of Indiana Pacers and future of the franchise, such phrases have been fruitless.

The players on, and fans of, this team didn’t need to watch Indiana flounder for months without its best player to know how valuable he is. He’s one of the league’s best two-way players, one of the only dudes in the NBA who can go toe-to-toe with a guy like LeBron James or Kevin Durant on defense, then turn around and give it right back on the offensive end.

And now Paul George is back.

In fact, the welcome he got from the fans in The Fieldhouse last night is something he calls the “greatest moment I’ve had.”

I’m sure it was very emotional for Paul, but trust us: There have been better ones.

Here’s a look at some of the moments that ingrained George’s greatness in the minds of Pacers fans, in honor of what he’s accomplished so far and with anticipation of what is ahead now that PG-13 has returned.

Next: Defending Derrick

Paul George Guards Derrick Rose in Playoffs – April, 2011

Former Indiana coach Jim O’Brien never cared for rookies, and Paul George was no exception. Under JO’B, PG bounced in and out of the rotation and struggled to find his identity as a player. O’Brien was fired around midseason, however, and once Frank Vogel took over, he urged George to concentrate on his defense and use that end of the floor as the starting point for developing his NBA career.

Vogel led the Pacers to a 20-18 finish and a playoff appearance as the 8th seed in the East.

The team played the Bulls in the first round, led by then-MVP Derrick Rose, who dropped 39 points and shot 21 free-throws in Game 1. At the time, George Hill was still in San Antonio, so Vogel decided to call on George to try to corral Rose.

The long-armed rookie was still raw, but he was Vogel’s best shot.

It only sort of worked, as Rose went on to average almost 28 points per game in the series, but George did have a couple moments against Rose, including this block.

In terms of Paul George feeling like he belonged, however, it was instrumental to his career. Vogel’s assignment was the kind of faithful demonstration that gave George a chance to show promise and build confidence.

The possessions when he did shut down Rose were his coming-out party and the first glimpse we got of all the amazing defense that was yet to come.

Next: 30 for 30

Paul George’s First 30-Point Game – February 2, 2012

Larry Bird drafted Paul George based on his athletic potential, and at the beginning of his second season, that was still about the extent of the George’s proven skills.

After the Bulls series, his potential on defense was obvious, but despite a smooth shot and great athleticism, he still hadn’t shown much flash on offense.

That changed during a February game against the Mavericks during his second season, when George drilled 7 3-pointers and notched his first career 30-point game on the road in Dallas.

It was a blip on the radar during a season in which Paul George averaged just 12 points per game, but the performance showed that he possessed a great shooting touch and a bit of play-making potential, as he dished out 5 assists as well.

As a regular-season NBA game in early February, it wasn’t a career-defining moment for George, but as his first dose of all-around success in a game, especially against a good team, it was a reassuring sign for the developing player and his fans.

Next: Thanksgiving 3-Fest

Paul George Hits 9 Triples to Break Reggie’s Team Record – November 21, 2012

In the fall of 2012, the rise of PG was suddenly upon us, as the extended absence of Danny Granger forced Paul George to take on much more of the scoring responsibility than he had been used to. After a rough start littered with turnovers, George started to show not just flashes, but results.

His breakout came during versus the then-New Orleans Hornets, when he dropped a career-high 37 points and nailed 9 threes, besting Reggie Miller’s old team record.

It was a sign that George had the ability to handle the scoring load of a star and the first in his role replacing Granger, who was still considered a viable NBA starter at the time.

No one realized that we were witnessing the passing of the torch for Indiana a little sooner than expected.

Next: Long Distance

Paul George Hits a 3 to Send Game 1 of ECF into OT – May 22, 2013

A year after jumping out to a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals and surprising the Miami Heat, Indiana met their South Beach rivals in the playoffs again — this time in the Eastern Conference finals.

They were eager to prove themselves capable of dismantling mighty Miami.

The Pacers got right after it in Game 1, keeping the game close until late in the fourth quarter. With a little more than 20 seconds to go, Indiana had the ball and were down just 2 points. But as he was wont to do in those days, George threw the ball into the seats on a miscommunication, and the Pacers were forced to foul Ray Allen.

It seemed like the game was over.

Incredibly, however, Allen missed 1 of 2 freebies, giving PG another chance to be the hero and lift Indiana into overtime.

So, he did.

At the time, the shot was absolutely Paul’s biggest moment as a Pacer, and it gave him an immediate sense of redemption after practically disappearing during the conference semifinal matchup against Miami the year before. For George, that shot came from much deeper than 30 feet.

Despite PG’s best efforts (he had 27 in the game), Indiana went on to lose in overtime, and George found himself staring at the name on LeBron’s jersey as James blew past PG (and an infamously not-even-on-the-court Roy Hibbert) for the game-winning layup, stymying the Pacers’ attempt to steal Game 1 on the road.

Considering this felt like something of an arrival for Paul — or at least one of the first signs that he had “it” — it’s sort of ironic that the Pacers not only lost that game, but that George’s 30-foot buzzer-beater only remained his definitive highlight for a matter of days …

Next: Birdemic

Paul George YAMS on Birdman – May 24, 2013

Does basketball get any better than Paul George using Chris Andersen as a launching pad in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals?

I say no.

Obviously there are bigger moments, but what a succinct blend of agility and power in one play: PG catches the league’s biggest star reaching, blows past him with a quick crossover, then throws down a one-handed dunk on Birdman f*****g Andersen so hard that he falls down.

“Finish him,” is right.

Many probably remember this sequence more for the three-point bomb that James put on PG after George’s free-throw attempt, and if the Pacers hadn’t gone on to win Game 2, that might be the way Indiana fans remember it as well.

But even in that moment, James memorably dapped PG at the next break in the action, seemingly validating both George’s ascension and the hopes Indiana had for him.

Next: Knick Killer

Paul George Draws 3 Free Throws to Take Knicks to OT and Win – November 20, 2013

After starting the season 9-0, the Pacers were in danger of losing their second game in a row to an Eastern Conference rival. Derrick Rose and the Bulls had taken Indiana down the night before, and Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks thought they had this game won.

Then Iman Shumpert fouled Paul George on a 3-point attempt, and PG coolly nailed the trio of free throws to send the game into OT.

George dropped nine more points in the extra period en route a then-season-high 35 points, and the Pacers destroyed the Knicks in overtime. PG was starting to find his groove as the Pacers’ everyday go-to scorer, and he was delivering big time.

Next: Trail Blazin'

Paul George’s Late-Game 3-point Binge, and a New Career High, in Portland – December 2, 2013

At this point in the 2013 season, the Pacers were rolling, out to the league’s best record at 16-1 and the Paul George MVP Tour was being rolled out and headed to Portland to take on the 14-3 Trail Blazers. (Remember those days?)

The Pacers lost the late-night affair, taking their second L of the season in a close game.

That wasn’t the exciting part, though.

As Indiana tried to mount a late comeback, George hit 5 3-pointers in the last three minutes of the game to score the team’s last 15 points, keeping them in it until the end and turning the last few minutes into a his own showcase.

After George dropped a new season- and career-high 43 on him, Nic Batum said after the game, per NBA.com:

"“It was like (George) could do whatever he wanted. He was going to make his shots. He’s a top-five (NBA player), for sure. He’s an MVP candidate so far. We tried to make him work. We did make him work. He made some tough shots.”"

Paul George was already looking like the best two-way wing player in the Pacers’ NBA history. And now he was showing that he had a bit of Reggie Miller in him, too.

A loss never makes fans feel good, but PG showed another layer of his potential with some Reggie-esque shots in crunchtime.

Next: The Showstopper

Paul George Turns a Steal into a 360 Windmill – January 18, 2014

At this point, George’s MVP campaign was in full swing, as the team was 32-7 and still on pace to win 65 games. PG was making highlight plays seemingly on a nightly basis, then going fishing the next morning.

But he had never done anything like this.

I’m not sure anyone had done anything like this.

In terms of entertainment value, George’s windmill stuff against LAC is the best in-game dunk of his life. With the exception of Vince Carter, it might be the best in-game breakaway dunk in anyone’s life.

Just ask Quinn Buckner.

Next: The Comeback

Paul George Carries Pacers back from 19-point Second-Half deficit versus Wizards in Game 4 – May 11, 2014

It’s not as fun to write about anything after the Pacers’ slide began last season, but unfortunately, that’s the last time we saw Paul George on the floor, aside from that stupid Team USA scrimmage.

Anyway, after Indiana flailed through the first round against Atlanta to scrape by in seven games, pretty much everyone expected them to lose to the upstart Wizards in the conference semifinals, especially once Washington stole Game 2 in Indianapolis.

The Pacers were able to recover by winning Game 3 in Washington, but when the Wizards raced out to a 19-point lead in Game 4, Indiana needed something

And since it wasn’t going to be Roy Hibbert or Lance Stephenson, and David West was damn tired of trying to do everything himself, PG put the team on his back, dropping in 39 points and hitting 7 threes, all while helping out on the red-hot Bradley Beal and snagging two steals.

He’s not only the only Pacers player capable of doing all of that, but one of the only guys in the league.

Next: Hitting on 21

Paul George Scores 21 points in 4th vs the Heat – May 28, 2014

Last but not least, also known as The Time Paul George Saved The Pacers From Total Embarrassment, Part XI, when George had 21 points in the fourth quarter.

This was another microwave job, with PG heating up too quickly for the other team to get a handle on him, and once he got rolling, there was no stopping him.

With a 39-point performance overall, George saved Indiana from falling 4-1 at the hands of the rival Heat in the conference finals.

Instead, the Pacers fell 4-2, as they promptly rolled over in Game 6, and Miami gladly ran through them en route to another finals appearance.

Again, the Struggle was considerably less fun than anything that came before it, but we could finally be approaching the end of the tunnel now that Paul George has returned.

With any luck, most of this list will be outdated in a year’s time.

Next: The World Reacts to Paul George's Return from Injury

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