Paul George is back and incredibly better than he was before the gruesome injury.
The question was whether Paul George could come back, then if became "Would he still be the same Paul George when he returns?"
The answer is "No" but inexplicably, it's "No because he's much better."
George scored 40 points as the Indiana Pacers beat Conference rivals Washington Wizards, and USA Today notes that PG13 is playing "better than ever."
The Pacers' superstar had a rough start as he was forced to play the power forward spot and he had hesitations about it, but that seems to be in the distant past now. When asked if he's playing the best basketball of his career, George agreed."I think I am. I feel great out there."
He added: "Honestly, I just feel like I had a year to work on my game," George said. "Most of the time, players get a good two or three months in the summer to get better, I had a full year sitting out and just getting better, and just learning because I knew the changes we were going with. They definitely put pieces around me to succeed and it is my job to take us there."
In NBA.com, George was unanimously chosen by no less than nine of their writers as the best comeback story of the season. Taking into consideration the extent of his injury, George trumped the comeback bid of both Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, as Shaun Powell says:
"Paul George and it isn't even close. 'Melo and Durant are coming off injuries but never had their careers threatened by them. George saw his leg break in two. For him to re-elevate himself to a franchise-player level this quickly - or at all - that's borderline amazing."
In the latest Kia Race to MVP, George went from no.10 to no.6. If he could win the MVP award after missing most of last season and the injury he suffered, he would write a historic and inspiring narrative not just in the NBA but in all of sports.