LAS VEGAS — Paul George Sr. repeats the words, each time growing in confidence and belief.
His son will be OK.
On Saturday, George Sr. told The Star that his son, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, was experiencing some pain in his right leg. However, while standing outside the Sunrise Hospital, George, Sr., who often displayed a smiling expression fitting for the name of the medical center, repeated the positive prognosis his son has received after undergoing successful surgery to repair an open tibia-fibula fracture. According to George Sr., doctors believe that the two-time All-Star will make a full recovery and eventually return to his career with the same athletic capabilities as before.
"Paul's doing well now. He's doing good. He's just resting right now," George Sr. said. "If it had to break, it broke the right way. It broke evenly, so they're saying he should be back 100 percent. But of course, he's got to go through his long process of healing and getting back in the gym but they're saying that shouldn't stop him from doing what he was doing once he's healthy again."
George, 24, suffered the shocking injury in the fourth quarter of the USA Men's Basketball instrasquad showcase held in Las Vegas. While George, Sr. said "it's possible" that his son will miss the 2014-15 season, the timetable will be judged after he returns to Indianapolis on Monday and visits local doctors.
"We're saying the whole year," George Sr. said. "With an injury like that, you need some time off.
"Doctors said give him at least three months before he can start putting weight on it," George Sr. continued. "Then he said from there it's up to him how far he can go with it. We'll have to play it by ear. He's hurting. He still can't believe that this has happened."
Even so, just like his son, George Sr. has been moved by the deluge of supportive tweets, text messages and calls. George Sr. said his cell phone battery drained from all the missed calls and his son's visitor log stayed filled with well wishers from James Harden's mother to New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis. Even, while recovering on Saturday, the outpouring of support continued for George. Besides being surrounded by his entire family — which includes his mother, Paulette, and two older sisters — USA Men's Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski made a return visit, as did Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard who walked out of the hospital with a group that included George's agent as well as a Nike representative.
"He was overwhelmed with everybody reaching out to him. I think that takes away some of the pain when you know that people care for you," George Sr. said. "Larry Bird's been calling … Larry's been calling left and right (asking), 'How is he? Do I need to come out there?' "
George Sr. said the Pacers have arranged the team plane to return him to Indianapolis. However, even before the flight, there was a sense of optimism that Paul George can still continue his ascension in the NBA.
"What he went through last night, today I can breathe a little better. We feel a lot better. Talked to the doctor again today and looked at Paul's leg and said hey, it's already healing," George, Sr. said. "The worst of it was yesterday. That's something you don't want to see happen to anybody.
"I had to go and break down a few times but you know, he's going to be alright, he's going to be alright, he's going to be alright. He just has to go through his healing now."
Thats like saying shaq wasnt a better scorer than hakeem because his offensive skill set wasnt as polished
