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12 Teams Set For 2016 Olympics; 12 Storylines To Watch For In Rio

By Matthew Medley

Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)
Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) /
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Paul George (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Paul George (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. United States: Paul George is Back

Team USA is always a powerhouse in basketball and is the presumptive favorite to win the gold medal.

Even without guys like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the stars and stripes will be represented by a star-studded cast, but one of the most intriguing stories to watch will be Indiana Pacers’ forward Paul George, who had one of the most gruesome injuries in recent memory during the last summer he played internationally.

When George went down with a lower right leg fracture on Aug. 1, 2014, many wondered if the star player would ever be the same again.

George came back with a vengeance in the 2015-16 NBA season, leading the Pacers to the playoffs, despite not having one of the more-talented rosters around him. It’s hard not to root for a guy who has come back from so much adversity.

George averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game in the 2015-16 regular season, leading the way, as his Pacers forced a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Raptors.

Fans can look forward to seeing George take advantage of his new opportunity and it will be interesting to watch the rejuvenated All-Star play among fellow NBA stars on the biggest stage in Rio.

Next: Underdogs From The Host Continent