[DondiJohnParticipant]

From the 2010 Draft, who would have thought he would be the first player to be selected to the all star game? With batchmates John Wall, Evan Turner, Demarcus Cousins and others taken in front of him, its unbelievable how he developed quickly.

Once he applied to the draft, I thought of him more as a prospect/project more than Wall,Turner,DMC and in my opinion, at draft day they could contribute already to a team. I saw him as a 4-5 year late bloomer in terms of development especially with Danny Granger playing the 3.

Hats off to the coaching staff and to the team especially veteran guidance from Granger and West for his development. Congrats to the Indiana Pacers, you have your foundation for the future.

[tiberiusParticipant]

I think this just shows you how important having a good coach is. Vogel is not only a good coach but a good teacher. He also demands respect. I think that if someone like Demarcus Cousins went there, he would behave appropriately. I always knew Paul George was going to be good because of his lenght and athleticism, but not as good as he is now. I credit the early playoff appearences for Paul George and their recent 2nd round run going against the toughest competition in the world, as a catalyst for Paul George’s growth. John Wall will have a difficult time trying to make the allstar team because of how strong the point guards are, so it also comes down to position. A shooting guard like Paul George who has a more versatile role than someone like a pointguard can imporve a lot more facests of his game.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I will say at least a lot of scouts were saying he had the most upside, I actually thought he would be drafted sooner than he did but lucky for Indiana he lasted a few more spots and they got him.

[TRC1991Participant]

I cant help but comment that the absence of Danny Granger has helped

[220Participant]

I absolutely agree with you. If Danny Granger was playing then Paul George would have a lot less opportunities particularly on the offensive end. The other thing that could’ve happened is if they were both playing at a high level they could split the vote causing neither player to make the all star team.

All that being say I’m happy for Paul George, he looks like he will eventually be a pretty awesome player.

[BigChamp12Participant]

He is a young star because of talents and hard work, but at the same time he has greatly benefited from being the right place at the same time. That could easily be him that got drafted to Minnesota or Sacramento and not had the right organization, coach, and teammates to groom him. If i was to do that entire draft over, in hindsight, I still wouldn’t take him with the number one or two pick. I think Cousins will be the most dominate and productive player from the class. I would select either favors or Wall at number 2.

[mcbaileyParticipant]

I wouldn’t draft Cousins in hindsight. Don’t know if that’ll get me negs, but all the talent in the world isn’t worth the headache that he comes with.

[MkadozaParticipant]

Paul George’s commitment to defense has been, in my opinion, the most important key to his development. The fact that he’s so effective defensively means he’s given ample in game playing time to improve his offensive ability. Also the fact that he was able to guard 3 positions effectively has allowed him to play more minutes as well.

Just for a quick player comp of George and Player X in year 3.

George is putting up 16.7 pts, 7.4 rebs, 3.7 asts, 1.7 stls, .7 blks, and 2.8 tos per 36 on .427 fg%, .383 3p%, and .812 ft%.

Player X averaged 17.7 pts, 7.3 rebs, 3.8 asts, 1.3 stls, 2.2 blks and 2.3 tos on .451 fg%, .277 3p%, and .707 ft%.

Who’s player X? And do you think Paul George will have similar stats to player X after this year with further development?

[festar35Participant]

If he turned into McGrady I wouldn’t mind, however I prefer the he stay more on top of the defensive end and score and few less points per game.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Those numbers are similar (not the exact same, though) to Kirilenko’s in 03-04.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Garnett 96-97, perhaps?

[festar35Participant]

Dude it is McGrady’s 3rd year per 36min.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

I see, thanks.

Just in case, this is Garnett’s sophomore season on 39mpg:
17.0 pts, 8.0 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1.4 stls, 2.1 blks on .499 fg%, .286 3p%, and .754 ft%.

And this is Kirilenko’s 3rd season on 37mpg:
16.5 pts, 8.1 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1.9 stls, 2.8 blks on .443 fg%, .338 3p%, and .790 ft%

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

I didn’t think he’d be the first to make the All-Star game but I think his development is right where I thought it would be. I thought he’d be a Rudy Gay type player when he got drafted, and besides better defense that’s pretty much what he is. I didn’t think he’d be a 4-5 year project.

Also looking back at my mock draft from 2011, I had him being drafted 11 to the Hornets, and there were only 2 players that I had thoughts of him being better then. Wesley Johnson, and Ekpe Udoh, but I kept them at 4 and 6 because of the hype. Other players I had ahead of him were John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, Ed Davis, Greg Monroe, Avery Bradley, and Al-Farouq Aminu, The injury of Danny Granger is helping Paul George out but if not for that, and if he were still playing out of position, I don’t think we’d be arguing that he should have been drafted higher.

At the time of the draft, all of those players graded out better.

And I’d still draft John Wall first in that draft and then i’d draft Cousins. Some players are so talented you have to deal with the headaches. Cousins is one of those players, I saw someone on bleacher report compare him to Chris Washburn, well Cousins doesn’t have a drug problem or at least not one we know about it. He really has the skills to be the best Big-Man in the league.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I saw Chris Washburn play and i can understand why someone would compare him and Cousins..Both have great size and can run the floor..But after that there are no comparisons..Cousins is more skilled and has a better basketball IQ…Washburn was the better athlete,there were few bigs that could do the things he did…….

Cousins problem is his attitude & immaturity,Washburn was just plain CRAZY!!!

[BigChamp12Participant]

Even right now, i think Cosuins is the Most Talented big man in the league. His problem is not even his attitude. I think his attitude gives him an edge. His problem is discipline… once he gets it, he can really dominate.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

He has played great this season..And deserved to be chosen….

But Derrick Rose being out for the 1st half,Deron Williams & Joe Johnson being so inconsistent this season, also played into both him and Holiday making the team…….

[apb540Participant]

I will never ever understand why Ekpe Udoh, Aminu, and Gordon Hayward got selected before Paul George.

[mcbaileyParticipant]

I was terrified that Indy would draft Gordon Hayward, and then when they drafted PG, I was like “who!?”

All in all, I’m glad they did.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I never thought Paul George would be an All-Star this soon. Honestly, I wasn’t sure he was ever a lock to be an All-Star. I just didn’t see it.

At points during this season, he was disappointing. I think at one point, he was benched the second half of a game.

Then all of the sudden, something lite a fire under his A. He started being more aggressive. He was comfortable in the mid-range. He was handling the ball better, especially when using a pick. He was passing better. I mean, he went from looking like the next Trevor Ariza to looking like what we all want Rudy Gay to look like. It’s pretty crazy how much he’s improved just this season.

I think getting the opportunities he did with Granger out and having a coach (two coaches because Brian Shaw loves George) who believes in him has been huge. He’s been given the green light and he’s taken advantage of it.

While I still think David West is the best player on the team, I have no problem with George representing the team in the All-Star game.

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