Indiana Pacers forward Paul George wants to be the Most Valuable Player (MVP) this season as he aims to bounce back from a gruesome injury last year that made him miss the majority of the 2014–15 season.
George led the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014 and was expected to have another great year last season.
Unfortunately, the former Fresno State Bulldog suffered a terrible leg injury in a Team USA scrimmage August of 2014 before the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup.
The injury allowed him to play only six games in the 2014–15 season where he averaged 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per contest.
Now that George has fully recovered from the injury, he has his eyes on the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
"I still understand I'm coming off the injury, but I'm trying to block all that out," George said during the Pacers' media day last Monday, according to the Indianapolis Star.
"I'm trying to come into this year as if I played last year and had another amazing season. I have the same goal. I wasn't the MVP last year. I want to be the MVP this year. I still want to be efficient," he added.
A member of the media asked how he will achieve his goal and he answered, " I got to win, as simple as that. I got to win."
In the 2013–14 season, the last full season George played, he averaged a career-best 21.7 points with 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per contest in 80 regular season games played.
Heading to a new year, the Pacers lost big men former All-Star center Roy Hibbert who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and forward David West who signed with the San Antonio Spurs in free agency.
Despite losing those key players, George still believes they can be a top three team in the East this season.
"We got a real shot at being in the top three in the East," the 25-year-old stated.
"We have to track a lot more and double-team a lot more. It will probably be a chaotic defense. But we're more than capable of doing this," George explained.
