INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday that All-Star guard Paul George would be available to play Sunday when the Pacers host the Miami Heat at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (6:00 p.m.).
George has missed the entire season after breaking his right leg during an intra-squad exhibition game at Las Vegas last August while practicing with Team USA as it prepared for the World Cup of basketball competition.
“The recovery has been a long process and this is another step in the process,” said George, a two-time NBA All-Star and the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2012-13. “I thank everyone, my family, friends, doctors, our training staff, coaches, the entire Pacers’ family for their support and encouragement. I’m excited, but at the same time I’m aware I’m still in a rehab stage and will continue to work to get back to full strength.”
“We’re happy to have Paul back in uniform, and this is just another step in his rehabilitation from the injury,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He has worked hard to get to this point and still has work to do, but it’s a positive step toward what we hope will be a full recovery at some point. His minutes will be limited in games he plays as we evaluate his progress moving forward.”
Earlier
Paul George spoke to the media following Monday's shootaround to give the latest update on if and when he might return.
The answer?
"I still don't know when my return date will be," George said.
"I wanted it to be March 14, but that obviously didn't happen. We're just being smart about the situation. When the time's ready, I'll be back out there."
George has slowly progressed in his recovery from fracturing his right tibia and fibula in the USA Basketball Showcase on Aug. 1. He returned to practice on Feb. 26, but the team is taking a cautious approach in making sure that George has his conditioning and confidence back before he returns to the court.
On Monday morning, George said he and the training staff "want to make sure I'm as close to 100 (percent) as possible."
On Friday, ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported that the team was targeting a return for George within the week, possibly as early as last Saturday. George did not play Saturday, nor will he play Monday against the Houston Rockets. The All-Star forward said that that report was news to him.
"He never spoke to me directly, so I don't know where that came from," George said.
Still, George maintained that he believes he will come back this season. When he does, he'd prefer to have his first game back be in Indiana.
"Obviously, I think it would be a better moment coming back here," George said. "I think I owe it to the fans for them to get the first glimpse of my first night on the floor."
You can watch George's entire session with the media in the video above.