NEW ORLEANS — Paul George of the Pacers is an extraordinary blend of talent and court intelligence. Like so many of the superior NBA All-Stars, he is always — ALWAYS — looking to improve and progress.
He goes everywhere, seeks out everyone, to find an edge. He talks to legends such as Indiana president Larry Bird and Pacers great Reggie Miller. He closely monitors the studs of the present, such as Miami’s LeBron James, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. He is on a mission.
From the moment the Pacers officially were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Finals by Miami last season, George became a driven man. The Pacers have followed his lead and entered the All-Star break as the best team in the East (40-12). Not enough. They want the best NBA record so if they face another Game 7 against anyone, it will be in Indy.
That has been the focus. George, who scored 18 points in the East’s record-setting 163-155 victory in the All-Star Game here Sunday, has led them. And as a two-way player, he has led himself into the MVP conversation.
“Paul,” said teammate Roy Hibbert — okay, he is biased — when asked for his MVP choice. “He plays both sides of the floor. To me, it’s not just about scoring. He distributes the ball. He does literally everything.
“He’s grown up on and off the court. Last year, he used to eat pizza for breakfast on game days. He’s taking his health and nutrition the right way before games. He lifts before every game. Lifts with me after games.”
George agrees with his candidacy, although he says Durant is currently the deserving favorite. But when you discuss the candidates, George, who signed a 5-year, $82 million extension last summer, believes his name should be mentioned.
“I do think I should be in the mix. I think I’ve done a great job with what we’re doing as for us being the No. 1 [Eastern] team,” said George, the 6-foot-9 reigning Most Improved Player Award winner who is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. “I’ve got great guys around me. If it’s not my year this year, it will be soon.”
George, a part of the East’s winning slam-dunk team Saturday, says the memory of losing to Miami fuels him and the Pacers.
“A lot of it is motivation, to come that close against the champions and that a couple plays we wish we could have back and changed was the deciding factor on us ultimately being in the Finals,” George said.
So if it meant lifting a little more, fine. Dumping the slices with pepperoni on game days, fine. Seeking out legends, fine.
“It’s great to be able to talk to Larry to help you get better,” George said of his relationship with Bird. “There are so many times this year where Larry has come to me and I’ve had conversations with him on what I can do to improve. And he’s been in my corner. Obviously, he’s a guy everybody wants to learn from.”
George, 23, said Miller has been there too and was especially helpful last season in the playoffs against the Knicks. Hey, someone has to tell a young guy how to handle Spike Lee in the Garden.
“Reggie talked me through the whole playoff run last year. He was in my ear on how to approach the games being a part of the Knicks and Pacers series,” George said. “It was good because it was new to me to be on that stage. He was very influential, just having someone in my corner telling me how to handle myself and how to be in the moment.”
When he’s not taking it in from legends, George scrutinizes his All-Star peers.
“I do follow them, watch them,” George said. “Just to see how they’re being aggressive, scoring. I like to compete and compare myself to those guys. KD, LeBron, Melo. I watch them a lot.”
No doubt, the legends and current stars are watching him, too.