Avon, Ind. — Pacers swingman Paul George was back in Indianapolis this weekend for his second annual basketball camp, which is held at Avon High School on the southwest side of Indianapolis. About 250 campers took part, including some from the local Boys & Girls Club, in his two-day camp.
“They’re getting great drills already and getting put to work,” George said.”My part is just to be here and show my face, and let them see me do the drills so they can get an idea that I do these drills and I work as hard as they do as well. This is what today is about. Just to have fun and teaching basketball.”
George passes with a young girl at his camp.
George, 25, even got his rooks, first- and second-round picks Myles Turner and Joe Young to make it out even though those two didn’t return from Orlando Summer League until midnight Friday. They were two of the top three scorers in the 10-team field.
Next week, George will fly to Beijing, China and make stops in two other cities with Nike to inspire kids to change through the game of basketball.
He also was originally planning to take part in USA Basketball mini-camp next month, but he decided it was best for him to pass on it.
VigilantSports.com, as well as a few other local outlets, had a chance to speak with the two-time NBA All-Star for eight minutes between stations. Read what he had to say below, or watch the video at the top of the page.
On seeing the rookies stand out at Summer League…
Yeah, I’ve been watching them. Being on the west coast it’s hard because they play around the time I work out. I try to TiVo it or just watch their highlights. I’m always aware of what’s going on with the team. They looked. They had a great camp, a great summer league. I’m excited to see what they can do on the court.
Pacers 2015 second round pick Joe Young led all scorers at Summer League with 22.5ppg.
On Larry Bird wanting to play him at power forward…
I’m a ball player. You put me anywhere on the court, I’m going to make the most of it. It’s not going to be logging 30 minutes at the power forward. Whatever needs to be done. If I got to play a couple minutes at the power forward I’m fine with it.
You say a couple of minutes, Bird sounds like 10, 20, 25 minutes…
Yeah, he’s running with it. We’ll see. If I got a great matchup and things are going well, I’m sure we’ll stay in that.
On losing David West and trading Roy Hibbert…
Yeah I spoke with both of them about their departures and future things.
It’s tough. Roy was the last … I’m the one that’s been with the Pacers the longest now. It’s rough. But I felt like those two, Roy and David, kind of molded me and really guided me and helped me along the way to be in a position I’m in now to lead a team. We’re a pretty veteran group still, but not in terms of how long we’ve played together. I’ve yet to play with those guys that return and those guys have yet to play with me. We got a lot of stuff that we got to iron out come season time, but we got a long ways away and a lot of chemistry to build.
Are you happy with the direction the team is going…
I am. One of the biggest things we needed to get better at was pushing the tempo and playing a little faster. I didn’t know it was going to be a drastic roster change but I knew that was the direction this team needed to go to give ourselves a better chance of winning.
But I like the pickups. I like resigning (Rodney Stuckey) back here. I like getting Monta [Ellis] here. It opens G-Hills game up, it open my game up; for sure it opens up C.J. Miles being guys that can space the floor and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played — Everybody making plays and passing the ball. Again, I’m excited and look forward to the season.
[Vogel on next season: ‘We’re going to be very different’]
On how he’s feeling, both his calf and leg…
I feel good. Physically I feel great. I’m still noticing some things that’s not PG-characteristic yet. But, as far as health wise, I feel great. … My body feels good. Great thing is we’re in the middle of the summer and I still got another month and half, two months to go before the season starts. Still two months to get better.
On approaching the one-year anniversary of his broken leg…
It almost seems like it happened ages ago. I forget sometimes it was less than a year (ago). It hasn’t really been in the back of my mind anymore. I’m kind of beyond that faze. That’s the good thing. I’m not going on the court and having flashbacks or thinking about coming down wrong. I’ve just been out on the court playing and just working out, and that’s been a great thing for me.
On his plans for USA Basketball camp next month…
I’ll probably shut down this summer, just because it’s probably smart for me health wise just to take that week to rest and do it good justice for my body.
Great turnout at Avon High School for Paul George’s hoops camp.
On what he’s been focused on this summer…
Just strength. I’ve continued to work on everything I need to do on the basketball court as far as shooting, ball handling. Really it’s the strength, trying to get back the strength in my legs as well as maintaining strength upper-body wise. But it’s really just getting back used to these legs, getting back used to this body again.
On if he’s playing any pick-up games to see how he was feeling…
Yeah, I’ve played about three or four times open runs. And then Nike put on a big camp of their own and I got a chance to get out there and play college and high school kids. I held up well. My body held up well and that was a plus for me.
On where he’s been this summer…
I’m in L.A. pretty much all summer. I’ve been out here a couple times but for the most part I’ve been in L.A.
On his and Pacers officials’ feelings for him to try-out for the 2016 Rio Olympics next summer..
Larry [Bird] of all people knows how important it is to play and represent for your country. So regardless of the situation, I know he’s got my back on that one. And it’s a personal goal. Injuries are a part of the game. The last thing I’ll do is let that keep me from making a dream happen. No hard feelings towards none of the situation. It’s part of the game.
I still have … dreams of lifting that gold medal. That’s definitely a motivation.