Pacers swingman Paul George was name to the All-NBA Third Team, the league announced on Wednesday. It is the second year in a row he has been voted on third team by the panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters.
Both George and the Pacers were intently awaiting the All-NBA teams.
By being named to an All-NBA team twice over his four-year rookie deal, George triggered a bonus. Typically referred to as the “Derrick Rose Rule,” a provision was put into the collective bargaining agreement in 2011 to reward the handful of young stars that far exceed the value of their first contract. By meeting one of three goals, player can become eligible for a maximum deal worth up to 30 percent of the cap rather than the typical max deal of 25 percent.
A player must either a) be named MVP, b) start in two All-Star games or b) be voted on two All-NBA teams, regardless of tier.
When George talked about his contract after signing it on Sept. 25, he said it was a max deal but wouldn’t go much into it. The Pacers negotiated George down to maximum of 27 percent should he qualify (first reported last fall by Zach Lowe of Grantland). In turn, the Pacers saved a nice chunk of change – an estimated $11 million – but George does have a player-option in the last year of this deal, 2018-19.
George’s qualification will net him an additional $6.8 million. Not bad, eh?
Next season, George’s salary will jump from about $3.2 million plus incentives to an estimated $15.8 million. The additional cap hit, $1.2 million next season, affects how the Pacers can maneuver about their offseason and with their goal of re-signing guard Lance Stephenson.
The official salary cap and luxury tax threshold will be released in July.
The awards and honors aren’t any surprise for the young 24-year-old. He was voted to start on the Eastern Conference All-Star team in February, finished ninth in MVP voting, and was named to the All-Defensive First Team on Monday. On top of that, his brand continues to grow. He has over 633,000 Twitter followers, the most of any Pacer, and this spring he had two commercials airing nationally for Gatorade and Papa Johns.
George is the fourth Pacers to receive All-NBA honors.
1994-95 Reggie Miller, Third
1995-96, Reggie Miller, Third
1997-98, Reggie Miller, Third
2001-02, Jermaine O’Neal, Third
2002-03, Jermaine O’Neal, Third
2003-04, Jermaine O’Neal, Second
2003-04, Ron Artest, Third
2012-13, Paul George, Third
2013-14, Paul George, Third
George received 171 points and four first-place votes. Indiana’s Roy Hibbert (17) and Lance Stephenson (3) each received votes. Complete voting details are below. Every voters ballot can be seen here.
First Team
Chris Paul
James Harden
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Joakim Noah
Second Team
Tony Parker
Stephen Curry
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
Dwight Howard
Third Team
Damian Lillard
Goran Dragic
Paul George
LaMarcus Aldridge
Al Jefferson
Other players receiving votes, with point totals: Carmelo Anthony, New York, 86 (1 First Team vote); John Wall, Washington, 70; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 63 (1); DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 56; Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 40 (1); Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 37 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 32 (1); Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 29; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers, 21; Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 17; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 16 (2); DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 14 (1); Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 7; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 6; Mike Conley, Memphis, 4; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 4; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 4; Joe Johnson, Brooklyn, 4; Lance Stephenson, Indiana, 3; Ty Lawson, Denver, 2; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 1; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 1; Monta Ellis, Dallas, 1; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 1.