Paul George not only came back from a broken leg but returned to All-Star form. Will he return to Team USA in Brazil though?
The mere fact that Paul George played in the All-Star Game just 18 months after one of the most heinous leg injuries we’ve seen an NBA player was remarkable.
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It was even more special that he broke the all-time 3-point record in the midseason classic while coming up just 1 point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time All-Star scoring record.
But while George is back to his old self — and has been even better at times — he is unsure if he is willing to head to the Olympics this Summer in Rio de Janeiro to suit up for Team USA. He has already admitted — following a prolonged, ugly shooting slump following his incredible November — that his legs are a bit tired. The rigors of the long NBA season are weighing on him, so he knows there may be some reason to rest up all Summer rather than continue playing.
He shared his concern with Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.
George has played in all 53 regular-season games for a Pacers team that is expected to make the playoffs. He is also a member of USA Basketball’s 31-man roster that has to be trimmed to 12 before the 2016 Rio Olympics. While USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo has promised George a roster spot, George said his body might not allow him to take the trip to Brazil.
“I had a long year,” George told Yahoo Sports. “This has been a long year coming from rehab. I just know how my body has taken these first 50-plus games, not knowing what these playoffs are going to do to my body. So there is a decision coming at the end of the year, is the smart thing to continue on or take a little bit of time for some rest and let my body heal?”
This is a sensible outlook in February.
While PG did have a nice game on Sunday alongside his fellow All-Stars, he also should have gotten a nice little rest as well. Hopefully, he will be ready to roll when the Pacers take the court again later this week, and shake off his poor-shooting ways to get back to how he played in November.
Then, after the season is over, he will know more about how he feels.
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I have a feeling he will end up playing for Team USA. Right now, he is still a bit unsure of his body. And while the competitive practices will be taxing, along with the travel and games in Brazil, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If need be, Team USA doesn’t need him playing 30 minutes per night. And they have left him with an open invitation to rejoin, making him one of the few players with a guaranteed spot. So given the circumstances (they gave him that privilege because of what he ended up sacrificing for his country the last time he wore the jersey), I’m sure he can tell the coaching staff that he needs to sit out a game or two, or skip some of the more rigorous practice drills.
Basketball players play basketball. If PG stays home, he’s going to be playing somewhere. So it may as well be alongside Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Anthony Davis, where he can further bond with the few humans on earth as talented as him in this game and steal a few of their tricks.
All while enjoying the unique, gorgeous beauty of Rio and Brazil while washing down a some coxinhas with a few caipirinhas.
Yeah, I think we’ll see some photos of Paul George hanging out on Ipanema Beach.