Much like fellow two-way stars Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler, Paul George entered the league as a lanky, athletic defender with a work-in-progress offensive game. Slowly but surely, George would put in the work towards expanding his skills on the more glamorous side of the floor. Needless to say, it paid off for the five-time All-Star.
Aside from the 2014-15 season, where George only played six games due to a horrific leg injury, the Fresno State product increased his scoring totals every season, going from 7.8 points per game in his rookie season to 23.7 in 2016-17. His consistent shooting from 3-point range played a big role in his progression.
George’s 3-point percentage took a major leap from his rookie year to his sophomore campaign, going from 29.7 to 38.5. Since then, he has yet to post a below-average 3-point shooting rate (he once again upped his numbers in his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder).
Aside from his playmaking, being able to shoot pull-up threes is what made George so effective in the pick and roll — he averaged 1.01 PPP on those plays in his final season in Indiana. Opposing defenses had to respect his ability to finish in the paint and being able to stop on a dime and shoot daggers from behind the arc made guarding him a strenuous task.
Had he decided to stay in Indiana, George likely would have finished in the top-three in more than just 3-pointers made. As it were, his spot on the 3-point leaderboard is more than enough to cement him as one of the franchise’s best 3-point shooters.