Paul George may elect to skip 2016 Olympics for rest
Considering the year he's having for the 28-25 Indiana Pacers, it's almost unfathomable to think All-Star forward Paul George is coming off a catastrophic injury in which he broke both bones in his lower right leg.
Through 53 games this season, George ranks 10th in the league in scoring at 23.3 points per game, while also averaging 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
The grind of a full 82-game slate after missing so much time has taken its toll, though, and with a potential spot on the 2016 U.S. men's Olympic team this summer at stake, George will have a big decision to make.
"I had a long year," George told Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears. "This has been a long year coming from rehab. I just know how my body has taken these first 50-plus games, not knowing what these playoffs are going to do to my body. So there is a decision coming at the end of the year, is the smart thing to continue on or take a little bit of time for some rest and let my body heal?"
George is one of 31 NBA players vying to be part of the team, although he's reportedly been promised a roster spot by USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo.
He was a favorite to make the squad for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, however, his leg injury occurred during a Las Vegas scrimmage, taking him out of the running and sidelining him for several months.
Sunday night in the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, George scored a game-high 41 points, falling one short of tying Wilt Chamberlain's 1962 record of 42 for the most points in the history of the event.