Paul George facts for kids

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Paul George

George with the Indiana Pacers in 2014

No. 8 – Philadelphia 76ers

Small forward

Personal information

Born

May 2, 1990 (age 35)
Palmdale, California, U.S.

High school

Knight (Palmdale, California)

Listed height

6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)

Listed weight

220 lb (100 kg)

Career information

College

Fresno State (2008–2010)

NBA Draft

2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall

Selected by the Indiana Pacers

Pro career

2010–present

League

NBA

Career history

2010–2017

Indiana Pacers

2017–2019

Oklahoma City Thunder

2019–2024

Los Angeles Clippers

2024–present

Philadelphia 76ers

Career highlights and awards

9× NBA All-Star (2013, 2014, 2016–2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
All-NBA First Team (2019)
5× All-NBA Third Team (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2014, 2019)
2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2013, 2016)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2011)
NBA Most Improved Player (2013)
NBA steals leader (2019)
Second-team All-WAC (2010)
No. 24 retired by Fresno State Bulldogs

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Team

Paul Clifton Anthony George (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People often call him "PG-13".

Paul George is a very talented player. He has been an NBA All-Star nine times. He has also been chosen for the All-NBA Team six times. This means he is one of the best players in the league. He is also known for his defense, being named to the NBA All-Defensive Team four times.

George played college basketball for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Indiana Pacers picked him 10th in the 2010 NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his first year. In 2013, he won the NBA Most Improved Player award. That year, he also became an All-Star for the first time. He helped the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

In 2014, George had a serious leg injury while playing for the U.S. national team. He missed most of the 2014–15 season. But he worked hard to recover. He became an All-Star again in 2016. That same year, he won an Olympic gold medal. He later played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2024, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Paul George was born in Palmdale, California. His parents are Paul and Paulette George. He has two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala. Teiosha played basketball at Pepperdine. Portala played volleyball at CSU-San Bernardino.

Growing up, George looked up to Lakers star Kobe Bryant. He loved watching the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. He spent a lot of time playing basketball at the park. He often played one-on-one against his sister Teiosha. He went to Knight High School in Palmdale. He also played for an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team called Pump and Run.

High School Success

George started his high school career on the junior varsity team. He moved up to the varsity team later in his sophomore year. College recruiters started to notice him in 2007. This was when he played in AAU tournaments. His coach saw his potential and gave him a bigger role in his senior year.

In his senior year, George led Knight High School to a Golden League championship. He was named the Golden League Most Valuable Player. He also won the Antelope Valley Press Player of the Year award. He averaged 23.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

George was not a top recruit for colleges at first. He first committed to Santa Clara, then Pepperdine. But he later changed his mind. He chose Fresno State. This was because it was closer to his home. His family could easily watch his games there.

College Career at Fresno State

Paul George played two years of college basketball at California State University, Fresno. This school is also known as Fresno State.

Freshman Season (2008–09)

In his first game, he scored 14 points for the Bulldogs. In another game, he scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He even had a famous one-handed dunk that was named "Play of the Day" on SportsCenter.

On February 9, 2009, he scored a career-high 29 points. He helped the Bulldogs win against Boise State. The team finished the season with 13 wins and 21 losses. They did not make it to the NCAA tournament. George led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in minutes played. He was also second in 3-point shooting and steals. He started all 34 games. He averaged 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.

Sophomore Season (2009–10)

Before his second season, Sports Illustrated called him one of the most entertaining players in college basketball. On January 21, 2010, he hurt his right ankle. He missed four games because of this. He returned on February 11. He scored a career-high 30 points in a win against New Mexico State.

The team finished the season with 15 wins and 18 losses. George averaged 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. He was named to the All-WAC Second-Team. On November 10, 2019, Fresno State honored George by retiring his number 24 jersey.

Professional NBA Career

Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)

Starting in the NBA

On March 31, 2010, Paul George decided to leave college early. He entered the 2010 NBA draft. Many experts thought he would be a top pick. Some even said he could be the best player from his draft class in five years. The Indiana Pacers chose him as the 10th overall pick. This was the highest an NBA player from Fresno State had ever been drafted.

George played his first NBA game on October 27, 2010. He scored 4 points in 23 minutes. In a game against the Washington Wizards, he scored a career-high 23 points. He made five three-pointers in that game. In his first season, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds. He started 19 of his 61 games. He was one of only two rookies to start for his team in the 2011 Playoffs. After his first season, he was named to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Becoming an All-Star

In the 2011–12 season, George played in the Slam Dunk Contest and Rising Stars Challenge. He tried some amazing dunks, like a 360-degree windmill dunk in the dark. He also dunked over his teammates. He averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds that season. The Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They lost to the Miami Heat.

In the 2012–13 season, George became the main offensive player for the Pacers. He scored a career-high 37 points against the New Orleans Hornets. He made nine three-pointers in that game. This broke the Pacers' record for most three-pointers in a game. He also got his first triple-double (scoring double digits in three different stats) against the Charlotte Bobcats.

George was chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2013. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He was named the NBA Most Improved Player. In the playoffs, he had his first playoff triple-double. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals again. They played a tough seven-game series against the Miami Heat. George was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and the All-NBA Third Team.

George with the Pacers in 2014

Leading the Pacers

Before the 2013–14 season, George signed a big contract extension with the Pacers. The Pacers started the season with a 9–0 record. This was the best start in their history. George scored a career-high 43 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for November.

The Pacers finished the regular season with a great 56–26 record. In the 2014 playoffs, George scored a playoff career-high 39 points against the Washington Wizards. The Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third year in a row. They lost to the Miami Heat again. George was named to the All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Paul George driving to the basket while being guarded by Anthony Tolliver in 2014

Injury and Comeback

Players on the US national team react after George suffered a serious leg injury during the fourth quarter of an intra-squad scrimmage on August 1, 2014

In August 2014, George suffered a very serious leg injury. He broke both bones in his lower right leg during a scrimmage for the U.S. national team. This injury meant he would likely miss the entire 2014–15 season.

George worked hard to recover. He was able to put weight on his leg in September. By October, he was shooting jumpers in practice. On April 5, 2015, George made his return to the Pacers' lineup. He scored 13 points in 15 minutes. He helped the Pacers beat the Miami Heat. He played the final six games of that season.

All-Star Return and Olympics

In the 2015–16 season, George showed he was back. He scored 36 points against the Miami Heat. He also scored 40 points against the Washington Wizards. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October and November. On December 5, he scored a career-high 48 points against the Utah Jazz.

George was chosen to start for the Eastern Conference in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. He scored 41 points in that game. This was almost the All-Star game record. He helped the Pacers get back to the playoffs. They lost to the Toronto Raptors in seven games. After the season, George joined the U.S. national team for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He won a gold medal with the team.

George defending LeBron James in 2017

In the 2016–17 season, George continued to play well. He scored 25 points in the first game of the season. He had a season-high 37 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. He also scored 39 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April. The Pacers made the playoffs again. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

Iman Shumpert defending Paul George in 2017

Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)

On July 6, 2017, Paul George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his first game with the Thunder, he scored 28 points. On November 10, 2017, he scored a season-high 42 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. He also tied a Thunder record by making seven three-pointers in a game.

George was named an All-Star again in 2018. He scored a season-high 43 points against the Denver Nuggets. In the playoffs, he scored 36 points in Game 1 against the Utah Jazz. He set a Thunder playoff record with eight three-pointers in that game. The Thunder lost to the Jazz in six games.

George re-signed with the Thunder in July 2018. He had a great 2018–19 season. He scored 47 points against the Brooklyn Nets, including a game-winning three-pointer. He also had 43 points and 12 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings. On February 11, 2019, he recorded his third career triple-double. He had 47 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Portland Trail Blazers.

George injured his shoulder in February 2019. This affected his shooting for the rest of the season. Despite the injury, he finished third in voting for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. The Thunder lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Trail Blazers. George had two surgeries on his shoulder after the season.

Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)

On July 10, 2019, George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He missed the first eleven games of the season while recovering from his shoulder surgeries. He made his Clippers debut on November 14, 2019. He scored 33 points against the New Orleans Pelicans. Two days later, he scored 37 points in just 20 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks.

On December 9, George returned to Indiana to play against his former team. He scored 36 points in a win over the Pacers. Four days later, he scored a season-high 46 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He and Kawhi Leonard became the first Clippers duo to each score 40 points in a game.

During the 2020 NBA Playoffs in Orlando, George faced some challenges. His performance was not always consistent. The Clippers lost in the second round to the Denver Nuggets. They had a 3–1 lead in the series but lost the next three games. In Game 7, George scored only 10 points. Fans sometimes called him "Pandemic P" during this time.

On December 10, 2020, George signed a new contract with the Clippers. In the 2020–21 season opener, he scored 33 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. In the Conference Semifinals, George helped the Clippers reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever. He scored a playoff career-high 41 points in a key Game 5 victory against the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers lost to the Suns in six games.

In the 2021–22 season, George scored a season-high 42 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. He later suffered a torn ligament in his right elbow. He missed many games because of this injury. He returned on March 29, 2022, scoring 34 points.

In the 2022–23 season, George scored 40 points against the Sacramento Kings. He also had his fourth career triple-double against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On December 31, he scored a season-high 45 points against his former team, the Indiana Pacers. On March 21, 2023, he suffered a right knee sprain. This ended his regular season.

In the 2023–24 season, George continued to play well. He scored 36 points against the Utah Jazz. He made a game-winning three-pointer against the Golden State Warriors. On January 16, 2024, he scored a season-high 38 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. On April 1, he scored 41 points against the Charlotte Hornets. On April 7, he scored 39 points and helped the Clippers make their biggest comeback in team history. They came back from 26 points down to win. The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. On June 29, 2024, George decided to become a free agent.

Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present)

On July 6, 2024, Paul George signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. He chose to wear jersey number 8 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant. With George joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to be a top team for the 2025 NBA championship.

George faced some challenges in the 2024–2025 season. He missed the first five games due to a knee injury. He made his 76ers debut on November 4, scoring 15 points. On December 16, he scored 33 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He also made six three-pointers, moving up to tenth all-time in NBA three-pointers made. On December 28, he passed Vince Carter for ninth all-time in three-pointers.

On March 17, 2025, it was announced that George would miss the rest of the season due to injuries. He played in 41 games, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Player Style

Paul George is listed as 6 feet 8 inches tall. He started his NBA career as a shooting guard. But he later moved to the small forward position. This happened as Lance Stephenson improved as a player for the Pacers. George worked on his ball-handling skills early in his career. When Danny Granger was injured, George took on a bigger role in scoring. This led to him winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

George is known as one of the best defenders in the NBA. He is also a great athlete. He has participated in the Slam Dunk Contest multiple times. In 2014, Nuggets coach Brian Shaw called George "the best two-way player in the game." This means he is great at both offense and defense.

In August 2014, George changed his jersey number from 24 to 13. This gave him the nickname "PG-13," which became very popular. He gave his old jerseys to his high school.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	Indiana	61	19	20.7	.453	.297	.762	3.7	1.1	1.0	.4	7.8
2011–12	Indiana	66*	66*	29.7	.440	.385	.802	5.6	2.4	1.6	.6	12.1
2012–13	Indiana	79	79	37.6	.419	.362	.807	7.6	4.1	1.8	.6	17.4
2013–14	Indiana	80	80	36.2	.424	.364	.864	6.8	3.5	1.9	.3	21.7
2014–15	Indiana	6	0	15.2	.367	.409	.727	3.7	1.0	.8	.2	8.8
2015–16	Indiana	81	81	34.8	.418	.372	.860	7.0	4.1	1.9	.4	23.1
2016–17	Indiana	75	75	35.9	.461	.394	.898	6.6	3.3	1.6	.4	23.7
2017–18	Oklahoma City	79	79	36.6	.430	.401	.822	5.7	3.3	2.0	.5	21.9
2018–19	Oklahoma City	77	77	36.9	.438	.386	.839	8.2	4.1	2.2*	.4	28.0
2019–20	L.A Clippers	48	48	29.6	.439	.412	.876	5.2	3.9	1.4	.4	21.5
2020–21	L.A Clippers	54	54	33.7	.467	.411	.868	6.6	5.2	1.1	.4	23.3
2021–22	L.A Clippers	31	31	34.8	.421	.354	.858	6.9	5.7	2.2	.4	24.3
2022–23	L.A Clippers	56	56	34.6	.457	.371	.871	6.1	5.1	1.5	.4	23.8
2023–24	L.A Clippers	74	74	33.8	.471	.413	.907	5.2	3.5	1.5	.5	22.6
2024–25	Philadelphia	41	41	32.5	.430	.358	.814	5.3	4.3	1.8	.5	16.2
Career		908	860	33.6	.440	.383	.853	6.3	3.7	1.7	.4	20.6
All-Star		9	3	23.2	.496	.380	1.000	3.3	3.0	1.3	.1	18.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2011	Indiana	5	5	26.6	.303	.231	.875	5.0	1.0	1.4	2.0	6.0
2012	Indiana	11	11	33.7	.389	.268	.786	6.6	2.4	1.6	.4	9.7
2013	Indiana	19	19	41.0	.430	.327	.727	7.4	5.1	1.3	.5	19.2
2014	Indiana	19	19	41.1	.438	.403	.789	7.6	3.8	2.2	.4	22.6
2016	Indiana	7	7	39.3	.455	.419	.953	7.6	4.3	2.0	.7	27.3
2017	Indiana	4	4	42.9	.386	.429	.867	8.8	7.3	1.8	.5	28.0
2018	Oklahoma City	6	6	41.9	.408	.365	.861	6.0	2.7	1.3	.7	24.7
2019	Oklahoma City	5	5	40.8	.436	.319	.816	8.6	3.6	1.4	.2	28.6
2020	L.A. Clippers	13	13	36.8	.398	.333	.909	6.1	3.8	1.5	.5	20.2
2021	L.A. Clippers	19	19	40.9	.441	.336	.844	9.6	5.4	1.0	.5	26.9
2024	L.A. Clippers	6	6	37.1	.411	.367	.840	6.8	4.8	1.2	.5	19.5
Career		114	114	39.0	.423	.352	.826	7.5	4.1	1.5	.5	21.2

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008–09	Fresno State	34	34	34.6	.470	.447	.697	6.2	1.9	1.7	1.0	14.3
2009–10	Fresno State	29	29	33.2	.424	.353	.909	7.2	3.0	2.2	.8	16.8
Career		63	63	33.9	.447	.396	.803	6.7	2.4	2.0	.9	15.5

Personal Life

Paul George is married to Daniela Rajic. They got engaged in November 2020. They were married in June 2022. They have two daughters and a son.

George co-hosts a podcast called "Podcast P with Paul George." He hosts it with actor Jackie Long and his AAU teammate Dallas Rutherford. Many NBA players have been guests on the show.

George signed a deal with Nike when he was a rookie. He had his own line of shoes and clothes from 2017 to 2022. In 2024, Nike announced they would bring back his earlier shoe models.

Images for kids

George with the Pacers in 2014
George with the Pacers in 2014
Paul George driving to the basket while being guarded by Anthony Tolliver in 2014
Players on the US national team react after George suffered a serious leg injury during the fourth quarter of an intra-squad scrimmage on August 1, 2014
George defending LeBron James in 2017
Iman Shumpert defending Paul George in 2017