Thunder star small forward Paul George scared some fans in Oklahoma City Thursday when he said he's dealing with a left foot injury he initially suffered during the preseason. Head coach Bill Donovan, however, has known about it for a while.

George, who re-signed with the Thunder in the offseason on a long-term contract, says he’s suffering from a nagging nerve issue in his left foot.

In seven games this season, Paul George has produced pretty well considering the circumstances. The five-time All-Star entered Friday averaging 23.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The Thunder began the season 0-4, but they have won three straight since.

From the looks of it, sounds like this is going to be a pain tolerance thing for Paul George moving forward. Some nights, the pain might be worse than others. Hopefully, the Thunder team doctors can maintain the ailment and prevent it from turning into a serious one.

George’s long-term health is important for the Thunder. The franchise signed the star swingman to a $136.9 million maximum contract in July. If Paul George needs to sit out some games during the regular season to rest the foot, then so be it. Russell Westbrook is more than capable of shouldering more of the load on offense if George has to miss a game here and there.