USA Basketball: Which Players Will Benefit The Most?
Paul George
Paul George might be the player with the most to gain by competing in the 2016 Olympics for Team USA.
George played well in 2015-16, his first full season since a catastrophic leg injury in an exhibition for Team USA prior to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but there’s another level that his game can go to.
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George averaged 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. Those numbers are All-Star worthy, but George has shown flashes that he can be even better.
In the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, George looked like a truly elite player, going for 27.3 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting. George improved his scoring output while also improving his efficiency.
To put it simply, George spent the season battling inconsistency before a surge in the playoffs showed that he’s 100 percent back from the injury that he suffered in 2014.
Now, coming back from injury is a thing of the past and George can move onto reaching his full potential as a superstar.
Paul George scores 18 in his return to @usabasketball action in Las Vegas! https://t.co/nYgLeMofuk
— NBA (@NBA) July 23, 2016
At age 26 on a Pacers team that has put an emphasis on playing a faster pace, George is due for an improvement in his scoring numbers. It’s not beyond belief that George could average 26 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while being a superstar on both ends.
Whether it’s by continuing to put the injury behind him, being around elite scorers like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, or just spending more time on a basketball court, George could become the latest player to take their game to another level after competing with Team USA.
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