George has successful surgery after horrific injury

Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Paul George is recovering in a Las Vegas hospital following successful surgery on a horrific leg injury in a USA Basketball game, the National Basketball Association team said on Saturday.

"Our initial discussions with our doctors and the doctors in Las Vegas have us very optimistic," Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said in a statement.

"We are hopeful at some point next week Paul will return to Indianapolis to continue his recovery."

George, the Pacers' key player, suffered an open fracture of the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg, USA Basketball said, when he contested a layup attempt by Houston Rockets' James Harden in a practice game on Friday in Las Vegas.

The game was cancelled and George had surgery later that night.

"I'll be ok and be back better than ever!!!" George said on Twitter.

U.S. media speculated that because of the seriousness of the injury it could be months before George is back on his feet and that his 2014-15 season could be in jeopardy.

Bird declined to comment on a timeframe for George's return to the court.

"Our first thoughts are with Paul and his family," said NBA great Bird. "It is way too early to speculate on his return as the No. 1 priority for everyone will be his recovery."

WIDESPREAD SUPPORT

The injury, which occurred when the 24-year-old George collided against bottom of the basketball stanchion, brought an outpouring of support from fellow NBA players and league officials.

"Made me immediately sick to my stomach!!" Cleveland Cavaliers' new acquisition LeBron James, who was not at the game, tweeted after learning of the injury. "Praying for u a speedy recovery homie!!!

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: "It was difficult to watch the injury that Paul George sustained tonight while representing his country. The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the NBA are with Paul and his family."

Despite the impact the injury might have on the Pacers, one of the top teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference, Bird said the franchise would continue to back USA Basketball.

"We still support USA Basketball and believe in the NBA's goals of exposing our game, our teams and players worldwide," said the standout on the original NBA "Dream Team" that won the 1992 Olympic gold medal.

"This is an extremely unfortunate injury that occurred on a highly-visible stage, but could also have occurred anytime, anywhere."

USA Basketball was using the Las Vegas training camp and the game to help select a team to defend their 2010 world title at the World Cup in Spain beginning on Aug. 30.

They are aiming to become the third team after Brazil (1959 and 1963) and Yugoslavia (1998 and 2002) to win back-to-back world titles.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Wilson, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacers, US star George suffers major leg injury

LAS VEGAS - Indiana Pacers star Paul George suffered a grisly lower right leg injury on Friday in a United States intra-squad scrimmage in preparation for the Basketball World Cup.

The injury was bad enough that the exhibition before fans at the Thomas and Mack Center was immediately halted and George was quickly hospitalized.

He later tweeted his thanks for the outpouring of concern he received.

"Thanks everybody for the love and support.. I'll be ok and be back better than ever!!!" he said.

Although he was upbeat, the reaction from those who saw the injury occur -- either first-hand or via video replays, showed just how shocking it was.

"It was difficult to watch the injury that Paul George sustained tonight while representing his country," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the NBA are with Paul and his family."

The Pacers small forward landed hard and his leg buckled horribly near the basket stanchion after he had fouled James Harden on a drive early in the fourth quarter of the contest.

Harden immediately doubled over in shock upon seeing the injury to his US team-mate and medical personnel, US coach Mike Krzyzewski and members of George's family attending the game moved to comfort the stricken player.

After George had been taken from the court with his leg in a splint, Krzyzewski announced that the contest would be halted.

"With the serious injury that we had and the fact that we stopped playing for a long period of time, and out of respect for Paul and his family, the scrimmage is done," he told the crowd.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo did not immediately confirm the exact nature of the injury, but said the organization's only concern at the moment was for the player.

"This is a very tough blow," a grim-faced Colangelo said at a news conference. "It's a tough situation for our entire organization, our coaches and players are very, very emotional."

Colangelo said decisions about the final US selection for the Basketball World Cup, to be held in Spain August 30-September 14, would take a back seat to making sure George was cared for properly.

"Our first concern, our primary concern, is Paul George," he said. "And so, as an organization, we're just going to let a little bit of time go by here before we address rosters or any of that stuff. It seems unimportant."

George, 24, has been an All-Star each of the last two years. He averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 80 games last season for the Pacers, who lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals.

- 'Thoughts and prayers with Paul' -

Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said the team was monitoring the situation.

"We are aware of the injury sustained by Paul George in Friday Night's Team USA game in Las Vegas and we are obviously greatly concerned," Bird said in a statement.

"At this time our thoughts and prayers are with Paul. We are still gathering details and will have an updated statement Saturday."

None of the players on the court with George spoke to the media.

However, Houston Rockets guard Harden was among George's NBA colleagues to use Twitter to wish the injured player well.

"Prayers go out to Paul George and his family!" Harden tweeted. "Keep ya head up G!"

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com