LOS ANGELES – Paul George started the year off as hot as anyone in the NBA. Alongside best friend Reggie Jackson, George led the LA Clippers to an early-season seven-game winning streak. Unfortunately, he suffered an elbow injury that's held him out since Christmas.

His initial diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right elbow with a re-evaluation date range set three-to-four weeks after Christmas. Despite the injury and absence, Reggie Jackson is leading the campaign to vote Paul George into the 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Jackson has been rocking the ‘Vote PG13 for All-Star' sweatshirts the team made, leading the charge to get his partner into the February exhibition.

“I’m always campaigning for him to be an All-Star,” Reggie Jackson said of his Clippers teammate. “To be in the position we’re in right now, everything that we’ve had to come through the season, the way that he’s competed, I mean, he’s done it all. We’re about halfway through the season. The game of basketball, what you love to see: crossovers, the passes, the flashy passes, the deep shots, dunking, defensive effort, getting on the floor, shot blocks, stealing, leadership.

“We’re not where we’re at right now without his play. And he embodies all of those things.”

In first returns of fan voting, which were announced Thursday, January 6, Paul George ranked third among West All-Star frontcourt players with 1,072,591 votes. That's behind only LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. He has a slim lead over Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins.

With George currently sidelined, it begs the question, would he even be able to play if voted in?'

“Oh definitely,” Jackson responded when asked if George plans to return this season. “He’s taking it day-by-day. I just talked to him yesterday on the game. We were playing video games, supposed to be an off day, just relaxing. And that was the first thing he’s thinking about, is like, ‘How are you doing?' ‘My elbow is feeling good. Rested, feeling good.' I appreciate hearing that, but I’m like, ‘Paul, just let your mind rest a little bit, good to hear your body is good. Just continue to take it day and day.'”

In 26 appearances for the Clippers this season, Paul George is averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from three. He's also the only player to average at least 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game.

“I don’t understand, I think it’s a no brainer.” Reggie Jackson continued. “If you want to go watch the best players, if you want to see the best action in the game. Yeah, he is the guy to go cast your vote for. He’s the guy that you want to see. He’s box office. And I think we all know it, we’re very appreciative of it. Try not to ever take granted for. Like myself and our teammates, it’s great, and we try to give him his flowers while he’s here, because playing this game, I feel like he’s taken for granted at times.

“We definitely – I know myself, I definitely – don’t want his effort and everything he’s done this season and the way he’s played, and I don’t think the game should overlook what he’s done. Because what he’s done is special, and just for us to, like I said, be floating where we’re at, to sit where we’re at still, with our ups and downs throughout the season, is very much so a lot of it is on his back and on his shoulders and everything he’s carried for us.”

Over the years, but especially from 2018 to 2020, Paul George's name was dragged through the mud. He went back on his word multiple times when switching teams. He's had the playoff failures during those years as well. ‘Playoff P.' ‘Pandemic P.' Damian Lillard, Jared Dudley, Devin Booker, as well as Chris Paul all started bad mouthing him on the court, and even Jared Dudley claimed that Paul George's comments in the bubble inspired his then-Los Angeles Lakers.

George put a lot of that talk away last postseason, leading the Clippers as far as he could with Kawhi Leonard missing the final eight games. The biggest performances?

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In the first game without Leonard, George put up a 37-point, 16-rebound, 5-assist, 2-block effort on 54 percent shooting to win Game 5 of a tied series against the Utah Jazz and take a 3-2 lead. George would help the Clippers seal the deal in Game 6 and advance to their first ever Conference Finals.

The second came in Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns the following round. With their backs against the walls, George delivered a massive 41-point, 13-rebound, six-assist, and three-steal masterclass on 75 percent shooting from the field to force a Game 6 back in Los Angeles.

Reggie Jackson has been able to watch Paul George's greatness from afar as his best friend and up close as his teammate. He doesn't want anyone taking him for granted.

“Anything good that anybody does, anything good at what they do, you never want to take it for granted so, especially being so close to him, it is frustrating for me because its like, ‘how can you not see the obvious sometimes,' and that’s how I feel. I moreso feel sad for those who overlook it moreso than being as frustrated and that people are overlooking it. It’s like, ‘Damn, I feel bad for y’all because y’all see what we’re missing when it’s gone.'”

The Clippers surely don't take George for granted, and they can't wait to get him back on the court, especially with the latest news about his co-star Kawhi Leonard.