Two years after suffering a broken leg injury during practice which sidelined him for a year, Paul George was back with USA Basketball on Friday, looking much better and fully healed.
During the first exhibition game versus Argentina, George scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, with two rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 16 minutes of action, as Team USA routed Argentina, 111-74.
George spoke with an NBA TV sideline reporter postgame about how he felt after his first game back in action.
It was a lot of emotions. I'm not gonna lie, The guys in the locker room did a great job of making sure I was good before we came out and ran on this floor.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski was present to witnesses George's injury real time back in Aug 2014. Krzyzewski doesn't believe the injury has hampered George's game one bit, but told reporters he thinks it had the opposite effect.
I think he's playing the best basketball in his life right now
This season after returning from injury, George earned his third All-Star selection, a third All NBA selection, while averaging a career high 23.1 points per game with the Pacers.
At the time of his injury, USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo, and coach Krzyzewski promised George a spot on the 2016 Olympic team, if he was up for the challenge.
He gratefully accepted the offer, and now finds himself back in action, ready to bring home another gold medal.
They stuck to their word. They're just as committed to me as I'm committed to playing for my country.
Team USA takes on China in Los Angeles, Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on NBATV.
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