2014 NBA Top 20: #5 Paul George - The year of reckoning

With time winding down in the 3rd quarter, the game evenly poised, and his team trailing in the series, Paul George went ahead and did something that forced people to change their perception of both Paul George and his Indiana Pacers. A speculative dribble and a now he was, now he wasn’t moment later, George was celebrating throwing down a monster dunk over Chris Andersen. The defender who got beat to the step and dribble: Lebron James, probably the most complete basketball player in a long time.

The 2012-13 season saw George end up crowned the most improved player in his third year in the NBA. Averages of 17 PPG, 7 RPG and 4 APG earmarked him as one of the rising stars of the NBA, equipped with both a great work ethic and an excellent basketball IQ. His emergence helped offset the loss of Danny Granger (injured for most of the season) and helped Indiana show the rest of the league that they belonged right at the top. A slightly stronger bench, and some more experience would have seen them progress to the NBA finals, and their series with Miami was definitely one of the most physical, closely contested Eastern conference finals seen in the recent past.

Although Indiana would like to argue otherwise, there was no way anyone could have known or predicted the rapid development that George has exhibited. Except for George himself. As someone who took to basketball seriously only during high school, he is truly a late bloomer, going through his early years pretty much under the radar. He wasn’t one of the sought after players for colleges, and this was right in tune with his personality, preferring to let his game do the talking. Fresno State was just the right fit, as they gave him the opportunity to play regularly, thus allowing him to showcase his many talents. His college performances saw him being touted as one of the best all-round players in the NCAA.

Testament to his basketball skills and his hard working nature is the fact that he is the only player of the 2010 NBA draft class to have made it to an all-star game so far. The Pacers really got a hell of a deal when they were able to draft George with the 10th pick, and it shows his maturity and hard work that he took his draft pick as nothing more but an opportunity to play at the biggest level, rather than using it to fuel his ego.

George has shown tremendous improvement in his 3 years in the NBA, going from 7 PPG in his rookie season to 17 PPG in the one gone past, his breakout season. Although he possesses all the characters necessary for a swingman (great athlete, good shooting ability, driving to the basket), his ideal position is the 3, and last season he was probably the second best small forward going both ways in the league, behind only Lebron James (Durant though brilliant in scoring is still not a force on the defensive end). His ability to shoot the 3 well, and drive strongly to the basket, in addition to his defensive tenacity, make him a coach’s dream. He ranks in the top 10 in Steals per game with 1.8, another facet of his game where he uses his athleticism and quick hands to get a lot of deflections, and helping his team score in transition.

In his 3 years so far, he possesses an uncanny statistic of having doubled his honors every year. His rookie year All-Rookie second team, sophomore season Slam dunk contest and Rising Stars challenge, and the third year, NBA all-star, NBA most improved player, All NBA third team and All NBA defensive second team. That level of improvement year on year has made it clear that Paul George has his eye on the target in front of him, NBA glory with his team Indiana, and showing that he belongs at the top and deserves mention among the Lebrons, the Durants and the Bryants. A lifelong Kobe fan, George has shown that just like Kobe, he is an extremely talented player who is ready to work his socks off to achieve greatness.

The 2013-14 season will prove to the be toughest test of his mettle so far. The Pacers have offered him the famed 5/30 contract extension, by virtue of which George will be the designated player on whom Indiana will spend 30% of their salary cap from the year 2014 onwards. Ironic that it is also referred to as the Derrick Rose rule, No. 6 on our list. All he needs to do now is replicate his form of the 2012-13 season, and show that he can adjust to the return of Danny Granger to the team, and still be the top player that he has shown himself to be. He could probably have 90 Million reasons to excel again next season, but he needs just the one: being the best player that he can be. Paul George, No 5 on the list of the top 20 players 0f the 2014 season.