INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Paul George’s support came from all corners Sunday.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski took time out of his national championship prep work to meet privately with the Pacers’ young star. A growing legion of fans inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse arrived in George’s new No. 13 jersey. The two-time All-Star even had America’s top military official, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra cheering for him.
It was quite a season debut for George, a little more than eight months after his right leg snapped during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas — and much sooner than anyone anticipated when the gruesome injury occurred Aug. 1.
“There have been a lot of injury stories this year, but that’s one of the good stories,” Spoelstra said about 75 minutes before tip-off between the two teams that met in the last two Eastern Conference finals. “We all saw it on TV. Even from a competitor’s standpoint it was great news to see that he was back out on the court. Even though it has to come on our game, who cares? The fact that an injured player is back – we’re not hiding from competition.”
The Pacers aren’t hiding from reality, either.