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Pacers forward Paul George has found a home in Indiana
Written by Michael Pointer
Sep. 21, 2013 11:38 AM |
indystar.com
Paul George has found another reason to enjoy Indianapolis —one that is obvious only to those that know him extremely well.
“It’s great fishing here,” said George, who has fond memories of family fishing trips while growing up in southern California. “Nice or bad weather, I’ll have a line in the water.”
On the verge of superstardom in a league that often sees its young stars pursue the bright lights of higher-profile cities, George has found a home in Indianapolis, professionally and personally.
After living Downtown during his first three years with the Pacers, George, who said earlier this week he will sign a long-term contract with the team prior to the season, has moved near Geist Reservoir.
David West is the Pacers’ veteran spiritual leader. Lance Stephenson gives them an edge. Longtime star Danny Granger returns after playing in just five games last season. George Hill is the local hero.
But the cornerstone of a team that enters the season with its highest expectations in nearly a decade is George.
“I’m a homebody,” George said during an interview with The Star at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this week. “And being in Indiana, you have to be a homebody.
“Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot of things that attract people here. But it’s a different city. If you want glitz and glamor, this is not it, and it shouldn’t be. Go somewhere else. It’s working class and I take pride in that because I’m a hard worker.”
That’s not a surprise considering where he came from.
Other side of the hill
Palmdale, Calif., is a city of about 155,000 in northern Los Angeles County, but it doesn’t have much in common with the City of Angels. It takes about an hour to drive to downtown L.A. and requires passing over the San Gabriel Mountains.
“No one really wants to go past that hill,” George said with a laugh.
There is little of the glitz and glamor associated with much of southern California. Palmdale took off on the back of the booming aerospace industry in the second half of the 20th century. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman remain primary employers.
It isn’t even much like Los Angeles when it comes to weather. It sits in the high desert, 2,600 feet above sea level. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold and rainy, and it sometimes even snows. The median home price is $166,800, according to citydata.com, less than half of the rest of California.
Truth be told, it may have more in common with Indianapolis than Los Angeles.
“It doesn’t attract a crowd,” George said.
But it was just the right place for his mom (Paulette) and dad (also named Paul) to raise George and his two older sisters. Portala played volleyball at Cal State-San Bernadino and Teiosha played basketball at Pepperdine.
“We had big dreams,” George said. “We knew our parents were not going to be able to put us through college. Sports was going to have to pull us through.”
The Georges were a close bunch —and became even moreso after Paulette suffered a stroke when Paul was 10 that left her paralyzed on the left side of her body.
Tom Hegre, George’s coach at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, said that strong family structure showed in the way he carried himself.
“One of the big things about Paul is just the commitment he had to his teammates,” Hegre said. “He has always been concerned about what teammates feel and what they are thinking and always had a great influence on the players around him.”
George stood just 6-foot as a freshman, but had long arms and Hegre was well aware of 6-4 Teiosha, so he figured George would grow.
He did. As a junior, George was the only non-senior starter on a team that went 22-4. He played for the Los Angeles-based Pump ‘N Run travel team the following summer with current New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holliday.
As a 6-7 senior, he averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds and led Knight to the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Division finals in the large-school class. That was a huge achievement in the talent-rich Los Angeles, San Diego and surrounding areas.
“That year put him in a position where he had to have a lot of confidence in himself,” Hegre said. “(The previous season’s seniors) weren’t there. He was clearly our leader.”
George originally signed with Pepperdine, but was released from his letter of intent after coach Vance Walberg resigned. He signed with Fresno State in the spring in order to stay closer to home and spurned late interest from Penn State and Georgetown.
“We told him from the very beginning he would not (be a center),” then-Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. “You’ll play (shooting guard or small forward). And you can look at our roster and see you will be playing 35-40 minutes a game.”
The Bulldogs, who were trying to rebuild after receiving substantial NCAA penalties because of recruiting violations under previous coach Ray Lopes, did not have a winning record in either of George’s two seasons.
But Cleveland knew George was probably gone for the pros after a 29-point performance against Pepperdine in December in front of several NBA scouts. George hit six 3-pointers and also scored 14 points in one 4-minute stretch.
“If he’s at a Pac-12 school and makes some of the mistakes he made, he’s sitting and watching,” said Cleveland, who now lives in Carmel and works for the Mormon church. “But there, he was able to work through them and go through the evolutionary process.”
George’s skill at recognizing and seizing opportunities was on display again for the Pacers last season.
At this time last year, he was the team’s fourth-leading scorer coming off a poor playoff performance against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. But when it became obvious that Granger, the Pacers primary offensive option for the last several years, wasn’t fully healed from a knee injury, Cleveland had a pretty good idea what would happen.
“When the door was open, (George) knew he had that opportunity,” Cleveland said. “It says a lot about him. He’s a player that understands his role. He realized right away, ‘My role has changed.’ ”
George’s scoring increased from 12.1 points per game to 17.4, he earned his first All-Star berth, was named the league’s Most Improved Player and established himself as a rising star with his performance against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in a seven-game Eastern Conference finals.
“When opportunity presents itself, I just feel like I’ve done everything I can up to that point (to be ready),” George said. “From that point on, everything just kind of falls into place.”
Picking George gets an F
Not everyone, however, believed George would ever be able to make that jump.
His selection by the Pacers wasn’t exactly universally praised. CBSSports.com gave the team an F in its post-draft grades. Some thought he was too similar to Granger and didn’t address the Pacers’ need for a point guard.
“He took a lot of bad shots (in college),” team President Larry Bird said. “I think that turned some people off because they didn’t think he could shoot.
“One thing I liked the most was his length. He was able to get in the passing lanes. He was very quick and he shot 90 percent from the line.”
Then-Pacers center Jeff Foster said George’s talent was obvious from the beginning.
“Not many people are gifted with his size, athleticism and ability to cover ground,” the now-retired Foster said. “But ultimately, it comes down to work ethic.”
With George, that wasn’t a problem.
“A guy comes from Fresno State and he wasn’t heavily recruited,” Foster said. “There’s not a lot of trappings the high profile guys have had coming into the league. He’s one of those guys that felt like he had something to prove.”
Pacers coach Frank Vogel added: “The greatest attribute Paul has, above his instincts and athletic ability and all those other things, is that drive. There’s no concern in my mind the (upcoming long-term) contract will change that. He’s determined.”
George promises there will be no change.
“It’s almost like now that I have this contract, I’ve got to do more work,” he said. “I’ve got to go out and play at the level the guys that are making this much money are playing at.”
Bird has no concerns about how George will play with Granger, who will no longer be the primary offensive option upon his return.
“I think it’s a great combo,” Bird said. “Paul not only can play the two or three positions (shooting guard or small forward), he can guard anybody. I think that takes a big load off of Danny.”
Granger and George share the same agent in Los Angeles-based Aaron Mintz. Both say they are good friends. George taking on a larger role than when they last played together on a regular basis during the 2011-12 season won’t be an issue, Granger said.
“The only thing we have in common is a similar build at 6-8 and 6-9,” said Granger, who likely will become a free agent next summer. “He’s more of a facilitator. I’ve always been more of a scorer, shooter. He’s a slasher. He can shoot it. He has more of an all-around game.”
Responded George: “You can’t help off Danny. Otherwise, it’s a (3-pointer). In that aspect, it helps me out. He opens the floor for me. It should be the same way for Danny. I should give him some space to operate.”
Bright future
A quiet lifestyle and some fishing spots aren’t the only reasons Granger wants to stay in Indiana, of course.
Under NBA rules, the Pacers can offer him the most money —five years, $78 million, according to www.hoopsworld.com —and could match any offer he receives after the season. They offer him a young team that appears ready to compete for an NBA title.
George is just 23 himself. West (33) is the only player in the top six older than 30. The oldest player on the roster is Luis Scola (34), a starter for most of his career who is expected to be a top backup option at center and forward after being acquired from Phoenix in the offseason.
This is a team that should be good for plenty of years to come.
“I think we’ve got enough of that bitter taste in our mouth,” George said. “I think we have enough of getting to a point like we did last year and not being able to fully overcome it. I know I feel that way. I think it’s throughout our locker room.”
For more sports coverage, download IndyStar Sports Weekly, a new digital sports magazine for your iPad available every Thursday.
Call Star reporter Michael Pointer at (317) 444-2709.
Pacers forward Paul George has found a home in Indiana
Written by Michael Pointer
Sep. 21, 2013 11:38 AM |
indystar.com
Paul George has found another reason to enjoy Indianapolis —one that is obvious only to those that know him extremely well.
“It’s great fishing here,” said George, who has fond memories of family fishing trips while growing up in southern California. “Nice or bad weather, I’ll have a line in the water.”
On the verge of superstardom in a league that often sees its young stars pursue the bright lights of higher-profile cities, George has found a home in Indianapolis, professionally and personally.
After living Downtown during his first three years with the Pacers, George, who said earlier this week he will sign a long-term contract with the team prior to the season, has moved near Geist Reservoir.
David West is the Pacers’ veteran spiritual leader. Lance Stephenson gives them an edge. Longtime star Danny Granger returns after playing in just five games last season. George Hill is the local hero.
But the cornerstone of a team that enters the season with its highest expectations in nearly a decade is George.
“I’m a homebody,” George said during an interview with The Star at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this week. “And being in Indiana, you have to be a homebody.
“Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot of things that attract people here. But it’s a different city. If you want glitz and glamor, this is not it, and it shouldn’t be. Go somewhere else. It’s working class and I take pride in that because I’m a hard worker.”
That’s not a surprise considering where he came from.
Other side of the hill
Palmdale, Calif., is a city of about 155,000 in northern Los Angeles County, but it doesn’t have much in common with the City of Angels. It takes about an hour to drive to downtown L.A. and requires passing over the San Gabriel Mountains.
“No one really wants to go past that hill,” George said with a laugh.
There is little of the glitz and glamor associated with much of southern California. Palmdale took off on the back of the booming aerospace industry in the second half of the 20th century. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman remain primary employers.
It isn’t even much like Los Angeles when it comes to weather. It sits in the high desert, 2,600 feet above sea level. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold and rainy, and it sometimes even snows. The median home price is $166,800, according to citydata.com, less than half of the rest of California.
Truth be told, it may have more in common with Indianapolis than Los Angeles.
“It doesn’t attract a crowd,” George said.
But it was just the right place for his mom (Paulette) and dad (also named Paul) to raise George and his two older sisters. Portala played volleyball at Cal State-San Bernadino and Teiosha played basketball at Pepperdine.
“We had big dreams,” George said. “We knew our parents were not going to be able to put us through college. Sports was going to have to pull us through.”
The Georges were a close bunch —and became even moreso after Paulette suffered a stroke when Paul was 10 that left her paralyzed on the left side of her body.
Tom Hegre, George’s coach at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, said that strong family structure showed in the way he carried himself.
“One of the big things about Paul is just the commitment he had to his teammates,” Hegre said. “He has always been concerned about what teammates feel and what they are thinking and always had a great influence on the players around him.”
George stood just 6-foot as a freshman, but had long arms and Hegre was well aware of 6-4 Teiosha, so he figured George would grow.
He did. As a junior, George was the only non-senior starter on a team that went 22-4. He played for the Los Angeles-based Pump ‘N Run travel team the following summer with current New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holliday.
As a 6-7 senior, he averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds and led Knight to the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Division finals in the large-school class. That was a huge achievement in the talent-rich Los Angeles, San Diego and surrounding areas.
“That year put him in a position where he had to have a lot of confidence in himself,” Hegre said. “(The previous season’s seniors) weren’t there. He was clearly our leader.”
George originally signed with Pepperdine, but was released from his letter of intent after coach Vance Walberg resigned. He signed with Fresno State in the spring in order to stay closer to home and spurned late interest from Penn State and Georgetown.
“We told him from the very beginning he would not (be a center),” then-Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. “You’ll play (shooting guard or small forward). And you can look at our roster and see you will be playing 35-40 minutes a game.”
The Bulldogs, who were trying to rebuild after receiving substantial NCAA penalties because of recruiting violations under previous coach Ray Lopes, did not have a winning record in either of George’s two seasons.
But Cleveland knew George was probably gone for the pros after a 29-point performance against Pepperdine in December in front of several NBA scouts. George hit six 3-pointers and also scored 14 points in one 4-minute stretch.
“If he’s at a Pac-12 school and makes some of the mistakes he made, he’s sitting and watching,” said Cleveland, who now lives in Carmel and works for the Mormon church. “But there, he was able to work through them and go through the evolutionary process.”
George’s skill at recognizing and seizing opportunities was on display again for the Pacers last season.
At this time last year, he was the team’s fourth-leading scorer coming off a poor playoff performance against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. But when it became obvious that Granger, the Pacers primary offensive option for the last several years, wasn’t fully healed from a knee injury, Cleveland had a pretty good idea what would happen.
“When the door was open, (George) knew he had that opportunity,” Cleveland said. “It says a lot about him. He’s a player that understands his role. He realized right away, ‘My role has changed.’ ”
George’s scoring increased from 12.1 points per game to 17.4, he earned his first All-Star berth, was named the league’s Most Improved Player and established himself as a rising star with his performance against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in a seven-game Eastern Conference finals.
“When opportunity presents itself, I just feel like I’ve done everything I can up to that point (to be ready),” George said. “From that point on, everything just kind of falls into place.”
Picking George gets an F
Not everyone, however, believed George would ever be able to make that jump.
His selection by the Pacers wasn’t exactly universally praised. CBSSports.com gave the team an F in its post-draft grades. Some thought he was too similar to Granger and didn’t address the Pacers’ need for a point guard.
“He took a lot of bad shots (in college),” team President Larry Bird said. “I think that turned some people off because they didn’t think he could shoot.
“One thing I liked the most was his length. He was able to get in the passing lanes. He was very quick and he shot 90 percent from the line.”
Then-Pacers center Jeff Foster said George’s talent was obvious from the beginning.
“Not many people are gifted with his size, athleticism and ability to cover ground,” the now-retired Foster said. “But ultimately, it comes down to work ethic.”
With George, that wasn’t a problem.
“A guy comes from Fresno State and he wasn’t heavily recruited,” Foster said. “There’s not a lot of trappings the high profile guys have had coming into the league. He’s one of those guys that felt like he had something to prove.”
Pacers coach Frank Vogel added: “The greatest attribute Paul has, above his instincts and athletic ability and all those other things, is that drive. There’s no concern in my mind the (upcoming long-term) contract will change that. He’s determined.”
George promises there will be no change.
“It’s almost like now that I have this contract, I’ve got to do more work,” he said. “I’ve got to go out and play at the level the guys that are making this much money are playing at.”
Bird has no concerns about how George will play with Granger, who will no longer be the primary offensive option upon his return.
“I think it’s a great combo,” Bird said. “Paul not only can play the two or three positions (shooting guard or small forward), he can guard anybody. I think that takes a big load off of Danny.”
Granger and George share the same agent in Los Angeles-based Aaron Mintz. Both say they are good friends. George taking on a larger role than when they last played together on a regular basis during the 2011-12 season won’t be an issue, Granger said.
“The only thing we have in common is a similar build at 6-8 and 6-9,” said Granger, who likely will become a free agent next summer. “He’s more of a facilitator. I’ve always been more of a scorer, shooter. He’s a slasher. He can shoot it. He has more of an all-around game.”
Responded George: “You can’t help off Danny. Otherwise, it’s a (3-pointer). In that aspect, it helps me out. He opens the floor for me. It should be the same way for Danny. I should give him some space to operate.”
Bright future
A quiet lifestyle and some fishing spots aren’t the only reasons Granger wants to stay in Indiana, of course.
Under NBA rules, the Pacers can offer him the most money —five years, $78 million, according to www.hoopsworld.com —and could match any offer he receives after the season. They offer him a young team that appears ready to compete for an NBA title.
George is just 23 himself. West (33) is the only player in the top six older than 30. The oldest player on the roster is Luis Scola (34), a starter for most of his career who is expected to be a top backup option at center and forward after being acquired from Phoenix in the offseason.
This is a team that should be good for plenty of years to come.
“I think we’ve got enough of that bitter taste in our mouth,” George said. “I think we have enough of getting to a point like we did last year and not being able to fully overcome it. I know I feel that way. I think it’s throughout our locker room.”
For more sports coverage, download IndyStar Sports Weekly, a new digital sports magazine for your iPad available every Thursday.
Call Star reporter Michael Pointer at (317) 444-2709.
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