“I was in a dark moment, a low moment,” he said. “I had a bunch of ankle injuries going on. The team wasn’t meshing well. The chemistry between myself and Jeff (Teague) wasn’t where it should’ve been. … I’m the guy who has to bring it on both ends, and I wasn’t feeling like I was capable of doing it physically. So it was wearing on me.”
George, 26, had a long stretch of recovery and basketball in the past two years, starting with his severe knee injury during a USA Basketball intrasquad game in the summer of 2014. He missed most of the 2014-15 season, returned close to his old self last season and won a gold medal with the U.S. at the Rio Olympics in August.
“Coming from USA Basketball and mentally and physically just being drained from basketball – starting a new season out, not fully being 100, having some bruises and some injuries – it took me time to work through that,” he said.
Shortly before the Pacers left for London and a game against Denver on Jan. 12, George had an epiphany. “I had a night of prayer and a morning of refreshment,” he said. “I’m doing and doing what I love to do, blessed to play this game. That’s honestly what changed it – just being happy in the moment I’m in and enjoying it.”
It shows, too. George and the Pacers had their best month of the season in January – with George averaging 24.5 points and shooting 47.8% from the field, including 42.3% on three-pointers.
“Now, I’m in a good place physically and emotionally,” George said.
For the season, he is averaging 22.6 points, 6.21 rebounds and 3.3 assists and shooting 45.4% from the field, and he made the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the fourth time.
He had four consecutive games with at least 30 points at the end of January, and his play coincides with Indiana’s rise in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pacers were 9-4 in January, are 3-0 in February and have moved from 10th place in the East in late December to sixth place, just two ½ games behind the struggling Toronto Raptors.
“Right now, we’re starting to learn, we’re starting to figure each other out, we’re starting to gain some identity and we’re starting to get some chemistry,” George said. “That’s the difference.”
The Pacers started the season with a new coach (Nate McMillan) and new players: Teague, Al Jefferson, Aaron Brooks and Thaddeus Young.
Article Appeared @http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/jeff-zillgitt/2017/02/06/paul-george-pacers-all-star/97536668/