OKC Thunder: Paul George’s inspirational career resurgence

Likewise, George is quick to reach out with support and prayers for his injured peers. When Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert went down (in what remarkably looked much worse than it was)  George was one of the first to reach out.

https://twitter.com/Yg_Trece/status/1062203844019605506

In January (23rd) the Victor Oladipo injury brought back memories for the two-way star.  George was still a member of the Indiana Pacers in 2014 when he suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula bones at the Team USA scrimmage.

Oladipo was the key Thunder player sent to the Pacers in the deal that brought PG13 to OKC.  Paul George reached out to Victor Oladipo to send his prayers and support.

Aside from the fact Oladipo is so likable and well respected, the situation rang close to home for the former Pacer. George sympathizes with the city of Indiana and Pacers fans having already endured the trauma and recovery of his injury.

"“I feel for him. I feel for the city, the state,” George said. “For them to have to go through that again with my injury and now Vic’s, it’s tough. It’s tough for the franchise. I think they’ll come out on top through it all.”"

Again, the full presser can be viewed in Royce Young’s tweet below:

George remains a supportive peer:

Having been through the long process of recuperation and building to regain his assets with a view to growth, George is all too familiar with how long the process can take. He makes a point to be a sounding board, offer support and provide whatever inspiration he can.

With Hayward, Paul George iterates (per Ricky Doyal of NESN) perhaps the most important message: “don’t be so hard on yourself…it takes time.”

Hayward, as mentioned in Zach Lowe’s podcast, is extremely tough on himself, often having spurts of depression and self-doubt following less than productive performances.

Per Doyal (and in the above tweet video), George stated patience is the key for Gordon Hayward:

"“When I got hurt, the doctors told me it would be two to three years before I feel the way I feel now,” George said. “Despite them saying I would make a full recovery, sit the next season out, make a full recovery and I would be back to myself, but it won’t be two or three years before I notice everything coming back. So it’s a long marathon for him. But he will be all right.”"