Paul George doesn’t look like he has skipped a beat.
George took the court Friday against Argentina in an exhibition and posted 18 points, two boards and an assist in a lopsided 111-74 victory.
Folks will recall the last time George took the court with Team USA, when he went up and came down, shattering his leg in a brutal display of the human body giving out. Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving talked with Michael Lee of The Vertical about the injury:
“I don’t think I really understood the magnitude of it, what transpired. I’m thinking, like, when is he going to be back?” Irving recalled this week as the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team held training camp for the Rio Games. “In that moment, I don’t know the injury. I don’t know what happened. I knew it was pretty gruesome.”
The topic was bound to come up right away, though it doesn’t seem like it will remain in the spotlight for long. George looked like a leader Friday, not an inexperienced Olympian still trying to find his way among the greats. With experience in hand and so many major names backing out, it was only natural for George to combine with Kevin Durant and others in a leadership capacity.
George himself touched on this:
Irving has already recognized a difference in George this time around. No longer trying to find his way, understand Krzyzewski’s system or figure out how he fits among a roster full of All-Stars, George now has the strut of someone in control, in command. “Right now, I feel like I belong,” George told the Vertical.
Indeed, George looked back to his ways:
A steal and slam by @Yg_Trece in last night’s exhibition game! #USABMNT https://t.co/QWqRLnAW2U
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 23, 2016
It’s great news for Team USA given the relative inexperience of the roster in what should be an odd Olympic games in Rio.
More importantly, it’s an inspiration for all. George isn’t letting the injury get in the way of playing for his country, giving the globe another strong reason to tune in and see how it plays out.
