![]() Instead of the 5 th to 7 th seed that fans expected before To miss nearly all of the season) that they were in the 8 th seed The standings, and was the primary reason (assuming that Kawhi was always going Still, the unfortunate fact remains that George simply wasn’tĪvailable for the Clippers for over half the season. It’s to George’s immense credit that he worked and trained and rehabbed to rejoin his teammates in a season that had gone haywire from before its inception with the Kawhi injury, and the benefit of the team’s long-term future that it appears this injury is behind him. Nearly all of that missed time was due to an unusual elbow injury, and it’s fortunate that George not only returned at all, but looked fully healthy upon his reappearance late in the season. It was a disappointing 2022 season for Paul George, who played in just 31 of 82 games and missed the second play-in game that resulted in the end of the Clippers’ season. Placed candidate), but more realistic goals were All-Star, All-NBA, maybeĪll-Defense, and head of a pretty good Clippers team. There were maybe some stealth hopes for a down-ballot MVPĬampaign (if not finishing quite as high as he did in 2019 as the 3 rd Handful of assists and rebounds, very good defense, and efficient shooting wasĪbout the baseline. Would put up as the primary player, but scoring about 25 points per game with a I wouldn’t have put a precise number to the kind of stats PG Coming off an exceptional 2021 playoffs that reasserted PG as one of the best players in the entire NBA, hopes were that he’d be able to steer the Clippers to a playoff berth as an All-NBA caliber player. The Clippers knew they’d be without Kawhi Leonard for most of if not the entire season, and that George would have to lead the team as the clear healthy best player. ExpectationsĪs our own Taylor Smith said in PG’s player preview, expectations for Paul George were massive entering this season. Steals, and 4.1 turnovers in 34.7 minutes per game across 31 games played onĤ2.1/35.4/85.8 shooting splits (53.8 TS%). ![]() Key Stats: 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.2 George played 42 games for the Clippers, averaging 21 points per game, before the season was suspended.Our exit interview series at 213 Hoops continues with a look at the 2022 season of Clippers’ superstar Paul George. In 2019, when Kawhi Leonard was pushing the Clippers to acquire a second star before he signed for them, the Thunder received a huge trade package from the Clippers for George. The next season he played even better on both ends of the floor despite injuries in the second half of the year, and he finished third in MVP voting. He chose to resign with the Thunder in the summer of 2018. However, George’s first season with the Thunder was a success, with several 30+ point performances in the regular season and the playoffs. Since he had only one more year under contract and he was known to prefer a move to the Los Angeles Lakers, it was a gamble for Oklahoma City to trade for him. The following season, George recaptured his pre-injury form, making the All-Star team and All-NBA Third Team.ĭuring the 2016-17 season, it was public knowledge that George wished to leave the Indiana Pacers. It was thought he would miss all of the 2014-2015 season, but he was able to play games for the Pacers in April 2015. In the summer of 2014, George suffered a horrific leg injury during a Team USA scrimmage. ![]() ![]() George was named to the All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA Third Team. The Pacers had another excellent regular season, starting with a 9-0 record, but they lost again to the Miami Heat in the playoffs. George signed a max contract extension before the start of the 2013-14 season. He had several strong playoff performances, and some thought the team led by George and Roy Hibbert could take down the Miami Heat, but Indiana lost again in the Eastern Conference Finals. He recorded his first career triple-double, averaged 17.6 points per game, and was named the Most Improved Player and was voted to the NBA All-Star team and All-Defensive second team. The 2012-13 campaign was a breakout season for George. The team lost in the second round of the NBA Playoffs to the Miami Heat. The next season, he started all 66 games in the lockout-shortened season and was selected to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest and Rising Stars Challenge during the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend. His play earned him a spot on the All-Rookie second team. He delivered several strong performances as a rookie, including a 23-point game with 5 three point baskets, and had the best steals-per-minute rate on the Pacers. Paul George was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. ![]()
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