Paul George on Team USA return: ‘A redemption to myself’

Paul George #29 of the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s National Team is tended to as he lies on the court after badly injuring his leg defending a play during a USA Basketball showcase at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 1, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rest of the exhibition was cancelled after the injury. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

After suffering a horrific leg injury two years ago during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas, nobody could blame Indiana Pacers superstar Paul George if he decided to opt out in this year’s Olympic games in Rio.

Despite the traumatizing incident, the six-foot-nine swingman has returned to the scene of the freak injury, where he suffered a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg that cost him nearly a year of his professional career.

“It means a lot,” George told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin during Team USA’s pre-Olympic training camp in Vegas. “This is like really a redemption to myself. All the bad that happened on that night, I owed myself this opportunity to come back out here and compete for my country.”

George, 26, marked a successful return to the hardwood this past season after averaging a career-high 23.1 points to go along with seven rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 steals.

His impressive numbers were even better come playoff time, as he put up  27.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and two steals, while almost leading his team to an upset of the second-seeded Toronto Raptors.

Among those impressed with George’s resurgence was USA Basketball chairman, Jerry Colangelo.

“It’s one of the great stories of this group,” he was quoted in the report. “I mean, when you think about it, when you think back to the tragedy when the injury took place, no one could have projected where he would be”.

“And was his career over? Was his career going to be limited because of the injury? Would he ever come back fully? And to see him back and to see what he’s accomplished back in the league, it’s like he didn’t miss a beat,” the former Phoenix Suns executive added.

USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, meanwhile, admitted that there was a time when he was doubtful if George would ever render his services again for the Olympics.

“I remember being in a hospital with him,” the legendary collegiate coach said. “You try to envision and talk about, ‘Well, in Rio, you’ll be there.’ And you hope that you believe that, you think you do, but then maybe that’s not going to happen. And it is. And hopefully we win, and that would be an even better story.”

George, on the other hand, insists that he’s moved past the injury and said it’s the least of his concerns come game time.

“I’m just enjoying it,” the 3-time NBA All-star said. “This trip is not about the injury. That’s behind me. It happened. I’m over it. It’s about preparing for a gold medal.” Khristian Ibarrola