Paul George Bio
Paul Clifton Anthony George Sr., known widely as Paul George or by his nickname PG-13, is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. A nine-time NBA All-Star, he has earned six All-NBA Team honors and four NBA All-Defensive Team selections across a career that began in 2010. George has suited up for the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Clippers, and he won an Olympic gold medal with the United States in 2016.
Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and listed at 230 pounds, George plays both small forward and power forward. He is widely respected for his perimeter defense, scoring touch from beyond the arc, and a competitive streak that has shaped his reputation as a two-way player.
Early Life and Background
Paul Clifton Anthony George Sr. was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California. He is the son of Paul George and Paulette George and grew up alongside two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala, both of whom played college sports. Teiosha played basketball at Pepperdine, and Portala played volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino, providing Paul with a household full of athletic examples.
As a child, George idolized Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and grew up rooting for both the Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent much of his free time at the park or in one-on-one games against Teiosha, sharpening the defensive instincts and outside shot that would later define his professional career.
George attended Knight High School in Palmdale, where he led the Knights to a Golden League championship as a senior and was named Golden League Most Valuable Player. He committed to Fresno State over programs like Georgetown and Penn State, partly because the campus was close enough for his family to attend games.
Path to Basketball
At Fresno State, George played two seasons of college basketball for the Bulldogs and quickly emerged as one of the most entertaining players in the West region. Sports Illustrated ranked him among the most entertaining college players in the country entering his sophomore year, and he led the Western Athletic Conference in minutes played while finishing near the top in steals and three-point shooting.
After averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals as a sophomore, George declared for the 2010 NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers selected him tenth overall, making him the highest NBA draft pick in Fresno State history. He signed his rookie contract on July 1, 2010.
Paul George Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
George made his NBA debut on October 27, 2010, against the San Antonio Spurs and finished his first season averaging 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds. He was named to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and he joined Landry Fields as one of only two rookies from his draft class to start a playoff game that season.
In his second season, George flashed scoring pop with a 30-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks and earned a spot in the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and Rising Stars Challenge. The Pacers pushed the eventual champion Miami Heat to six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, foreshadowing the rivalry that would shape his next few years.
Indiana Pacers Breakthrough (2012–2017)
With Danny Granger sidelined by injuries, George shifted from shooting guard to small forward and became the Pacers’ go-to scorer. On November 21, 2012, he buried nine three-pointers in a 37-point game against the New Orleans Hornets, breaking Reggie Miller’s franchise record. He recorded his first career triple-double on February 13, 2013, and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game that season.
George earned the 2013 NBA Most Improved Player award after averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, and he led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. In Game 1 against the Miami Heat, he forced overtime with a late three-pointer and made all three free throws with 2.2 seconds left before LeBron James’s buzzer-beating layup ended the game.
During the 2013-14 campaign, George paced the Pacers to a 9-0 start, a 56-26 regular season, and a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. He posted a career-high 43 points against the Portland Trail Blazers and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. The summer brought disaster, though, when he suffered a compound fracture of his right leg during a USA Basketball scrimmage in Las Vegas. He returned for the final six games of the 2014-15 season and reclaimed his form in 2015-16, scoring 48 points against the Utah Jazz and erupting for 41 points in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, just one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record.
Oklahoma City Thunder Era (2017–2019)
On July 6, 2017, the Pacers traded George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. He debuted with 28 points against the New York Knicks and later tied a Thunder record with seven three-pointers against the Toronto Raptors. He earned his fourth All-Star nod in 2018 and signed a four-year, $137 million extension to remain in Oklahoma City.
George produced one of the most electric stretches of his career in early 2019, including a 47-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers, and a game-winning floater with 0.8 seconds left in double overtime against the Utah Jazz. A right shoulder injury sustained in February 2019 required two off-season surgeries, and the Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Trail Blazers.
Los Angeles Clippers Era (2019–2024)
The Thunder traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers on July 10, 2019, in a package that helped the franchise sign Kawhi Leonard. After missing the season’s first eleven games recovering from shoulder surgery, George debuted with 33 points against the New Orleans Pelicans and later scored 46 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game where he and Leonard became the first Clippers duo to each top 40 points in a single game.
The Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021, where George posted a playoff career-high 41 points in a Game 5 win over the Phoenix Suns. He signed a four-year, $190 million extension in December 2020 and battled through a torn right UCL in 2021-22, returning to score 34 points against the Utah Jazz in March 2022. He helped lead another Clippers run to the conference finals in 2024 before the team fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers Era (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. With his previous jersey numbers retired by the franchise, he chose number 8 to honor Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant and joined Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in a star-studded trio expected to contend for the 2025 NBA championship.
George’s first season in Philadelphia was disrupted by a preseason bone bruise and later by adductor and knee injuries that ended his year in March 2025. In 41 games he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while the 76ers posted a 23-45 record. On July 14, 2025, he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, and on January 31, 2026, he received a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Driving Style and Strengths
George is widely regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, combining length, foot speed, and anticipation to guard multiple positions. Offensively, he has developed into a reliable three-point shooter and a creative shot creator who can attack closeouts and finish at the rim, while his seven-foot wingspan fuels deflections and weak-side blocks.
Notable Events and Milestones
George’s career is dotted with signature moments, including nine three-pointers to break Reggie Miller’s franchise record, a 48-point outburst against the Utah Jazz, a 41-point All-Star performance, and a dramatic overtime duel with LeBron James in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals. He also earned an Olympic gold medal in 2016 and retired his college number 24 at Fresno State in 2019.
Paul George Career Wins
Paul George has stacked up team and individual accomplishments across the NBA, including nine All-Star selections, an NBA Most Improved Player award, and four All-Defensive Team nods. He helped the Indiana Pacers reach three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, powered the Oklahoma City Thunder into the 2018 and 2019 playoffs, drove the Los Angeles Clippers to their first Western Conference Finals in 2021, and joined the Philadelphia 76ers as a marquee addition in 2024. He also captured an Olympic gold medal with the United States in 2016.
NBA Regular Season and Playoffs Highlights
George has produced eight 40-point regular season games for the Pacers, multiple 40-point efforts for the Thunder and Clippers, and three career triple-doubles, including a 47-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2019. He led the league in steals in 2019 and finished third in both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting that same season.
Other Performances
At Fresno State, George was a Second-team All-WAC selection and ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in three-point shooting percentage. He played AAU basketball with Jrue Holiday, helping build the competitive foundation that translated to his NBA success.
Paul George Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Paul George was raised in Palmdale, California, by his parents, Paul George and Paulette George. He has two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala, both of whom played college sports, giving the household a strong athletic foundation that shaped Paul’s competitive drive.
Personal Life
Paul George is married to Daniela Rajic. The couple became engaged in November 2020 and married in June 2022, and they have two daughters and a son named Paul George Jr. He is the co-host of the podcast “Podcast P with Paul George,” and he previously held a signature footwear and apparel line with Nike from 2017 to 2022.
2025 Season Performance
Paul George’s 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers was defined by injuries and inconsistency. After missing the preseason and the first five regular season games because of a hyperextended knee and bone bruise, he debuted on November 4, 2024, with 15 points against the Phoenix Suns. He later surpassed Jason Terry and Vince Carter on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list, climbing to ninth in league history.
The 76ers’ season unraveled alongside George’s health. On March 17, 2025, the team announced that George would miss the remainder of the year because of adductor and knee injuries, finishing with averages of 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 41 games. The 76ers sat at 23-45 when the announcement was made, and observers described George’s debut campaign in Philadelphia as disappointing.
The off-season brought more uncertainty, with George undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in July 2025 and later receiving a 25-game suspension in January 2026 for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. When he has been on the floor, George has shown flashes of his All-Star form, including a 39-point game against the Washington Wizards, and the 76ers will look to recapture momentum as he works his way back into the rotation.
