After being sidelined for over three months, Paul George didn't miss a beat in his first game back. The LA Clippers star helped lead his team to a 121-115 win over the Utah Jazz by scoring a game-high 34 points to go along with six assists and four steals, which was also a game-high. He did all of this in just 30 minutes.
George suffered from a right elbow injury early in the season that nearly necessitated surgery. He had been aiming for a return to the court during March and was able to do so just before the calendar turned to April. As LA looks to secure a playoff berth, the timing of his return is fantastic news.
George attributed his ability to come back from injury and play such a strong game to Kobe Bryant. The Clippers star said that he looked up to the Lakers legend for an example of how to play through adversity.
Paul George to @JaredSGreenberg after tonight’s win against the Jazz pic.twitter.com/6QDsSjbVJM
— Sports On DIRECTV (@SportsOnDIRECTV) March 30, 2022
The quote from George is part of the endless examples of how Bryant influenced the generation of players that watched him. George, a native of Palmdale, CA, has spoken plenty of times about how much he idolized Bryant growing up. As he pieces together his own basketball legacy, it's clear that he still does.
George helped lead the Clippers to their first-ever Western Conference Finals berth last season. His unreal scoring and defense make him a huge late-season addition. With a 37-39 record, LA is eighth in the conference. They will most likely have to go through the play-in in order to snag a postseason bid.
Editor's Note: This story initially said Paul George needed surgery for his elbow. George mulled surgery but didn't actually get it. The story has been fixed and we regret the error.
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