The grueling, seven-month long rehab process for Paul George took a largely symbolic (yet meaningful) step forward Thursday, as the All-Star forward participated in his first full team practice since suffering a gruesome leg injury in a Team USA scrimmage last summer.
George continues to aim for a return to game action by mid-March, and beat his personal goal of practicing by March 1st.
"It felt good. It felt really good." – Paul George talks to the media after his full first practice. pic.twitter.com/51oaNp13hd
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 26, 2015
"I do feel stronger on the court. I've put on a lot of strength in the weight room." Paul George says he now weighs around 235lbs.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 26, 2015
The Pacers are doing their best to manage expectations for PG-13.
Per the Indy Star:
“Felt good. Felt really good,” George said after the workout, “to be able to go through a full practice now and go up and down, it’s a big step for me.”
Though George has been cleared to practice with teammates, the Indiana Pacers still have not set a timetable for his return to playing in games. Previously, George had said he would like to play in his first game by mid-March. However on Thursday, George, who suffered an open fracture of the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg on Aug. 1, would only repeat his optimism for such an early comeback for the court, without stating a firm date. […] “I’m still hopeful,” George said. “That’s the date that I wish to return. (But it’s a) long ways away, still got some steps and some hurdles to overcome. That’s still a goal of mine.”
“We want him to come back when he’s ready to come back. He’s eager to get out on the court, but he’s not going to do it before he’s ready,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We understand once he’s medically cleared to play in a game, then there’s going to be: Is he ready to play in a game? And that could be a few more weeks beyond that. It’s really going to be something we monitor almost on a daily basis and hopefully it progresses as well. […] This is not a dramatic step from where he was,” Vogel said. “Just taking a step. Nothing more than that.”
