COMING off a breakout year which saw him take his game to an All Star level and push league MVP LeBron James and the rest of the Miami Heat to the brink before folding in the Eastern Conference Finals, Indiana Pacers wingman Paul George said he is hungrier than ever to achieve more in the 2013-2014 NBA season.
He recently showed this burning desire in the Pacers’ first preseason game this year against the Chicago Bulls. Though they lost, 76-82, George was more fired up than usual especially with the Chicago Bulls fans trooping to Indiana to cheer on the returning Derrick Rose.
“More so, I was fired up because of all the Chicago Bulls fans that showed up. That was mainly where it was coming from. No one should be coming into a preseason game that fired up but it was really about the amount of support that was coming into our arena. I just wanted to have that edge. Not wanting to lose to them, sweep them all year,” shared George about that particular game at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indiana.
George is coming off career-high averages of 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game that elevated him as one of the league’s brightest stars. He even improved his play in the playoffs where he nearly averaged 20 points in their seven-game loss to James and the Heat. With those gaudy stats, George was recently signed by the Pacers to a five-year deal worth $90M.
The Fresno State star affirmed that he was more than ready to face the expectations that come with signing a max deal. “I am. Coming into this, I was ready for the expectations. Pressure builds character and I’m not someone who is satisfied with where I am right now. I always want to climb to a higher and higher level. Expectations will only make me play better,” George said.
Expectations are even set to skyrocket with the return of former All Star, Danny Granger, who George feels will help the team even more in their run for the crown.
“Danny’s a great leader for us. He’s another playmaker, another shotmaker for us. He’s someone that we missed. He’s a guy that in his career, has averaged over 20 points and been an all star. He takes a lot of pressure off of myself, Roy (Hibbert), David (West), George (Hill). It’s good having him back in the lineup,” George said. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio