Paul George

 

Paul Clifton Anthony George (born May 2, 1990), nicknamed “PG-13,” is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), George plays as a small forward and shooting guard.

 

He played two seasons of college basketball for the Fresno State Bulldogs before being selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. George is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA Team selection, a four-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, an Olympic gold medalist (2016), and the 2013 NBA Most Improved Player. He is widely regarded as one of the premier two-way wings of his generation, combining elite scoring with lockdown defense. His playstyle has been called one of the most versatile, with a lot of young players often citing George as an inspiration. 

Early Life 

 

George was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. He is the son of Paul George Sr., who worked as a carpenter and for a manufacturing company, and Paulette George, a homemaker. George grew up with two older sisters: Teiosha, who played basketball at Pepperdine University, and Portala, who played volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino.

 

George idolized Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and grew up rooting for both the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. When George was 10 years old, his mother suffered a debilitating stroke, and he sought consolation by playing basketball more frequently, often competing one-on-one against his sister Teiosha. George spent most of his free time playing basketball at local parks, developing his game through repetition and competition.

 

High School 

 

George attended Knight High School in Palmdale, where he was initially a reserved player who needed encouragement from coaches to be more aggressive. His former coach later described him as a “late bloomer” who required coaxing to shoot and drive to the basket more often. In his senior year, George finally embraced being the team’s best player and led Knight to the California state finals. Despite his late-season success, he was not heavily recruited by major college programs.

 

College Career

George attended Fresno State University from 2008 to 2010, playing two seasons for the Bulldogs. He averaged 15.5 points per game over his college career, showcasing NBA-ready athleticism and helping energize the program’s fan base. On March 31, 2010, George announced he would forgo his final two years of college eligibility and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. He became the highest NBA draft pick in Fresno State history when selected 10th overall.

 

NBA Career

Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)

 

George was selected 10th overall by the Indiana Pacers on June 24, 2010. Before the draft, an anonymous Eastern Conference scout predicted to Yahoo! Sports: “In five years, Paul George will be the best player to come out of this draft,” a statement that proved remarkably prescient.

 

George made his NBA debut on October 27, 2010, against San Antonio, scoring four points in 23 minutes. In his rookie season, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 61 games, earning All-Rookie Second Team honors. He was one of only two rookies from the 2010 class to start in the playoffs, alongside Landry Fields.

 

George’s breakout came in his third season (2012-13), when he averaged 17.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He was named NBA Most Improved Player, earned his first All-Star selection, and led Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first appearance since 2004. The following season (2013-14), George elevated his game further, averaging 21.7 points and earning All-NBA Third Team honors while leading the Pacers back to the Conference Finals.

 

On August 1, 2014, George’s career trajectory changed dramatically. During a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, George suffered a catastrophic injury when he landed awkwardly after challenging a fast-break layup. He sustained an open fracture of both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg, one of the most gruesome injuries caught on tape. The injury occurred in a collision with the basketball stanchion, which was positioned too close to the baseline.

 

George missed the entire 2014-15 season recovering from the injury. Many questioned whether he would return to his previous form. However, George proved his resilience, returning for the 2015-16 season and averaging 23.1 points per game while earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. He continued his excellence in 2016-17, averaging 23.7 points, but the Pacers suffered a disappointing first-round playoff exit.

 

In June 2017, George’s agent informed Indiana that George planned to leave as a free agent after the 2017-18 season and that his preferred destination was the Lakers. Rather than lose him for nothing, the Pacers traded George to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)

 

On July 6, 2017, George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, a trade that initially favored Oklahoma City but eventually worked out well for both teams as Oladipo blossomed into an All-Star.

 

Although Oklahoma City was not George’s first choice, he flourished playing alongside fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook. After his first season with the Thunder (2017-18), George surprised many by signing a four-year, $137 million contract extension to remain in Oklahoma City.

 

The 2018-19 season proved to be George’s best individual campaign. He averaged a career-high 28.0 points per game along with 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and a league-leading 2.2 steals per game. George finished third in MVP voting and third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, cementing his status as one of the NBA’s elite two-way players.

Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)

 

On July 10, 2019, George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers along with draft picks in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and multiple first-round picks. The trade was orchestrated in conjunction with Kawhi Leonard’s free agency decision, as Leonard agreed to join the Clippers only if they acquired George.

 

George spent five seasons with the Clippers, forming a star duo with Leonard. In 2020-21, George led the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, averaging 26.9 points in the playoffs while Leonard was sidelined with injury. The Clippers lost to Phoenix in six games.

 

Throughout his Clippers tenure, George battled various injuries that limited his availability. On June 29, 2024, George opted out of his $48.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season, becoming a free agent.

 

Philadelphia 76ers (2024–Present)

 

On July 6, 2024, at age 34, George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. With his previous jersey numbers (24 and 13) retired by the franchise in honor of Bobby Jones and Wilt Chamberlain, respectively, George elected to wear number 8 as a tribute to his idol, Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant.

 

The signing created a star trio of George, center Joel Embiid, and guard Tyrese Maxey, positioning Philadelphia as a championship contender. However, George’s first season proved disastrous. He missed the first five games with a bone bruise from a hyperextended knee suffered during the preseason. He made his 76ers debut on November 4, 2024, recording 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in a loss to Phoenix.

 

George continued to struggle with injuries throughout the season. On March 17, 2025, it was announced he would miss the remainder of the season due to adductor and knee injuries. In just 41 games, George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, his lowest scoring average since his second NBA season. The 76ers finished with a disappointing 23-45 record at the time of his shutdown. On July 14, 2025, George underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

 

The 2025-26 season began with George averaging 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists through 27 games. However, on January 31, 2026, the NBA announced George had been suspended 25 games without pay for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, costing him an estimated $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary.

 

In a statement, George acknowledged taking “an improper medication” while seeking treatment for a mental health issue: “Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication. I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process.“

 

George is currently the last active player remaining from the 2010 NBA Draft class following John Wall’s retirement in August 2025.

 

International Career

 

George represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning a gold medal as part of Team USA.

 

Personal Life

 

George has been open about mental health challenges and has emphasized the importance of seeking treatment and maintaining transparency. He wears the nickname “PG-13” both as a reference to his initials and jersey number, and as a nod to the MPAA film rating.

 

References

 

External Links

* Paul George on NBA.com

* Paul George on Basketball-Reference.com