2013-14 All-NBA Third Team

Wheat Hotchkiss

The accolades keep rolling in for Paul George.

The Pacers’ star forward was named to the All-NBA Third Team for the second consecutive season on Wednesday.

As he has done every year since entering the league in the fall of 2010, George displayed marked improvement in 2013-14.

George’s scoring jumped over four points per game, from 17.4 last season to 21.7 this year. His shooting percentages improved across the board, most notably at the free throw line, where he connected on 86.4 percent of his attempts after making 80.7 percent last season.

On the defensive end, George continued to establish himself as one of (if not the) best perimeter defenders in the NBA. His 1.89 steals per game ranked fifth in the league. He displayed a rare ability to guard players at several positions and was named to the All-Defensive First Team on Monday.

George was twice named Eastern Conference Player of the Week during the 2013-14 season and was dubbed Player of the Month in November, an honor that was never bestowed upon Reggie Miller during his Hall of Fame career. In February, George appeared in his second straight All-Star Game and was elected to start the contest for the first time in his career, receiving more fan votes than any player not named LeBron James or Kevin Durant.

Like the Pacers as a whole, George did struggle at times after the All-Star break – his scoring and shooting percentages took a noticeable dip during the month of March. But on the whole, George’s 2013-14 season was a tremendous success.

With increased success comes increased expectations. George’s profile has soared nationally, as he’s scored multiple national endorsement deals with companies like Gatorade and Papa John’s.

He’s also dealt with ever-increasing media attention and taken it in stride. After each and every home game, George sat in uniform at his locker and graciously answered question after question from a throng of reporters before heading to the shower.

George’s rising star is all the more remarkable when you consider that just a few years ago, he was an unheralded recruit on his way to Fresno State. He has already reached considerable heights. The question now is how much higher can he go?

In just his fourth NBA season, George is already in elite company in the annals of Pacers history. Only three other Pacers players have earned All-NBA honors: Reggie Miller (1995, ’96, and ’98), Jermaine O’Neal (2002, ’03, and ’04), and Ron Artest (’04). O'Neal made the second team in 2004 — the only time a Pacers player achieved that honor.

George, who didn’t turn 24 until May 2, figures to have plenty of years to add to his already impressive resume and perhaps even to become the first player in franchise history to make the All-NBA First Team.

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird referred to George as “our future” at his season wrap-up press conference on Monday. The Pacers have proven to be a legitimate title contender the past couple of seasons and figure to remain so for at least a couple more. But with George, that window could turn out to be considerably longer.

another-accolade-for-indianas-rising-star

Another Accolade for Indiana's Rising Star

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NEW YORK, June 4, 2014 – The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, the 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and winner of four scoring titles in five seasons, highlights the 2013-14 All-NBA First Team.  Durant was the lone unanimous selection, appearing on all 125 ballots as a First-Team pick while LeBron James of the Miami Heat garnered 124 First-Team votes.

Joining Durant and James on the First Team are Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.  Harden and Noah captured First Team honors for the first time in their careers.  Paul is an All-NBA First Team selection for the fourth time.  Durant makes his fifth appearance on the First Team, while James earned his eighth All-NBA First Team nod.

Durant averaged a career-best 32.0 points to go with 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists, also a career high.  In capturing his fourth scoring title, he joined Jordan (10), Chamberlain (seven), Gervin (four), and Allen Iverson (four) as the only players in league annals to win at least four scoring titles.  He shot .503 from the field, .391 from three-point range, and .873 from the free throw line, leading all players in free throws made (703) and attempted (805).  Durant authored two 50-point games, topped the 40-point mark on 14 occasions, and turned in 17 games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.

James shot a career-high 56.7 percent from the field this season, marking the seventh consecutive season he has improved his field goal percentage.  He connected on 116 three-point field goals, the second straight season he has made over 100 three-point field goals while shooting at least 55 percent from the field.  He posted his ninth 2000-point season, becoming only the fourth player in NBA history to accomplish this feat, joining Karl Malone (12), Michael Jordan (11) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9).

Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago’s 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals.  He was one of just three players (Detroit’s Andre Drummond and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis) to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.  Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-stingiest in the league.

Paul led the NBA in assists (10.7 apg) and steals (2.48 spg), while averaging 19.1 points and 4.3 rebounds as the Clippers won a franchise-record 57 games.  Paul became the seventh player in NBA history to top the 6,000-assist plateau before the end of his ninth season.  He’s only the fourth player in NBA history to reach 6,000 assists before his 29th birthday, joining Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and John Stockton.

Harden finished fifth in the NBA in scoring (25.4 ppg), and added 6.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He was one of only two players (LeBron James) to average at least 25.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds.  He finished second in the NBA in free throws made (576), topped the 30-point mark in 24 games and registered two 40-plus outings.  Harden also ranked fifth in the NBA in minutes (38.0 mpg).

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, forwards Blake Griffin of the Clippers and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Dwight Howard of the Rockets.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic at guard, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge at forward and the Charlotte Hornets’ Al Jefferson at center.

For the first time this season, complete media voting results for each NBA annual award will be posted on nba.com/official following the announcement of each winner.  The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.  The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

2013‑14 All‑NBA Third Team

Another Accolade for Indiana's Rising Star

Paul George Named to All-NBA Third Team