On the “Podcast P with Paul George,” Paul George opened up about how two legends, Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather, played crucial roles in helping Paul recover from his horrific leg injury in 2014. George’s leg injury, suffered during a Team USA scrimmage, was a defining moment in his career, and the support he received from these two icons was invaluable.
“You know, obviously, he was just showing his support. He was like, ‘You know, if you need anything from me, I’m here. I’m in this with you.’ But he was also like, ‘You know, the rehab is going to be tough, right? The work is going to be hard.”
“He was like, ‘Nobody wants to rehab,’ because this was the first time I’d ever been injured or broken anything. I messed up my ankle in college, but it didn’t require surgery—it just required time off. So this was the first injury I ever had that required surgery.”
“He was just like, ‘You know, the work is going to be tedious. It’s going to be tiresome. You’re not going to want to do it.’ But he was like, ‘My advice is to attack rehab the same way you attack working out on the court. You find fun in working out on the basketball court, so you’ve got to find that same fun in the rehab.”
“The only way you’re going to get through it is by attacking rehab like you attack the basketball court.’ That advice took me a long way because I knew instantly that it was going to be the same thing day after day, and that gets exhausting, you know what I mean?”
“If he hadn’t told me that and warned me ahead of time, then my mind probably would have been all over the place—not fully committed to the process, not giving it 100%.”
“But because he warned me about that, I knew I had to attack it like basketball. I was like, ‘Alright, he said it was going to be tedious, but now I’ve got to give it everything I’ve got every time I work out.’ That was kind of the breakthrough, you know what I mean? That was the breakthrough.”
“But you know, I was still kind of out of it, still drugged up. The support from the league guys was surreal—so many people reaching out through phone calls. I know there were people there at the hospital too. Floyd came every day.”
Paul George shared how Kobe Bryant, known for his relentless work ethic and mental toughness, reached out to offer support and advice. Kobe emphasized that the road to recovery would be tough, describing the rehab work as “tedious” and “tiresome.” However, he encouraged George to approach rehab with the same intensity and focus that he brought to his basketball training.
This advice proved to be a turning point for George, who admitted that without Kobe’s guidance, he might not have been fully committed to the grueling process. Kobe’s words helped him mentally prepare for the challenges ahead and motivated him to attack rehab with the same passion he had for the game.
In addition to Kobe, Floyd Mayweather also played a significant role in George’s recovery.
“I was at the hospital for maybe six or seven days. Floyd came three or four of those days, like, ‘P, I’m gonna come back tomorrow, I’ll come check on you.’ The next day, he was there with a fresh plate of soul food, man. So, big shoutout to Floyd.” (1:13:30)
Paul George Sr. shared how Mayweather provided emotional and physical support during George’s hospital stay. Floyd visited George multiple times, bringing comfort and encouragement during a challenging period.
The support from these two legends not only helped Paul George physically recover but also provided the mental and emotional strength he needed to overcome such a devastating setback. Their influence was instrumental in his journey back to the court, where he would continue to establish himself as one of the NBA’s premier players.
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