Paul George has changed his jersey number from No. 24 to No. 13, and Indiana Pacers fans may get their first glimpse of him in the new garb this season. According to reports George has passed tests that measure his running, jumping and cutting capability, and that's not all.
President of basketball operations Larry Bird said that George's leg should be fully healed by March 1.
For those who need a refresher, George snapped his leg during a Team USA scrimmage ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup, and has missed the entire season so far.
George is recovering quickly though, and is in high spirits. "I've got LeBron tomorrow night," he joked Thursday. The Pacers sorely miss his offense this year. Last season he averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while generally doing a number on the opposing team's top perimeter option defensively.
Indiana coach Frank Vogel is one person tempering the optimism about a swift return for "PG-13" however.
"Paul is not going to be out there unless he's Paul George," Vogel said. "He's eager to get back on the court, but not before he's ready. Once he's mentally cleared to play in a game, he's still got to be ready to (actually) play in a game."
Rushing George back could be a risky move, but Indiana does have a good chance at reaching the postseason. The Eastern Conference race for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds is littered with sub-.500 clubs, and Indiana and Detroit are just one game behind the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets for the eighth spot. They are three and a half games back of the Miami Heat for the seventh spot, and while their acquisition of Goran Dragic was a big get, losing Chris Bosh for the season could be a killer.
[ESPN]
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