Paul George Bio
Paul Clifton Anthony George Sr. (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed “PG-13,” he is a nine-time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA Team honoree, and four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and listed at 220 pounds, George has built a reputation as one of the league’s elite two-way players, combining perimeter defense with sharpshooting from beyond the arc.
Born and raised in Palmdale, California, George rose from a lightly recruited three-star high school prospect into a top-10 NBA draft pick. He has represented the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, and won an Olympic gold medal with the United States national team in 2016.
Early Life and Background
Paul George was born in Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County, the son of Paul George Sr. and Paulette George. He grew up alongside two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala, both of whom played college athletics, with Teiosha playing basketball at Pepperdine and Portala playing volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino. Much of his childhood was spent at the local park or in one-on-one games against Teiosha, which helped sharpen his competitive instincts.
George idolized Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and grew up rooting for the Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. He attended Knight High School in Palmdale, where he played for the school’s varsity team and the Pump and Run Amateur Athletic Union program alongside future NBA guard Jrue Holiday. As a senior, he led Knight to the Golden League championship and was named the Golden League Most Valuable Player, the Antelope Valley Press Player of the Year, and a member of the Daily News 2007–08 All-Area Boys’ Basketball team, finishing the year with averages of 23.2 points and 11.2 rebounds.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school, George was ranked as a three-star recruit and the 20th-best player in California’s 2008 class. He initially committed to Santa Clara before de-committing, then pledged to Pepperdine, only to back out when Pepperdine coach Vance Walberg resigned. He ultimately chose Fresno State over Georgetown and Penn State because the school was close to home and his family could attend his games regularly.
At Fresno State, George played two seasons for the Bulldogs in the Western Athletic Conference. As a freshman, he averaged 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists and led the WAC in minutes played while ranking second in three-point percentage, steals, and steals per game. As a sophomore, he raised his averages to 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 steals, earning All-WAC Second-Team honors. On November 10, 2019, Fresno State retired George’s number 24 jersey to honor his college career.
Paul George Career
Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)
The Indiana Pacers selected Paul George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, making him the highest draft pick in Fresno State history. He signed a two-year rookie contract worth $3.9 million and joined a Pacers team rebuilding around veteran Danny Granger. In his first two seasons, George served as a role player off the bench, splitting time between shooting guard and small forward and earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 7.8 points as a rookie.
With Granger limited by knee and calf injuries during the 2012–13 season, George took on a leading offensive role and emerged as a star. He scored a then-career-high 37 points against the New Orleans Hornets, set a Pacers single-game record with nine three-pointers, recorded his first career triple-double, and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game. He won the NBA Most Improved Player Award and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team after leading Indiana to the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)
On July 6, 2017, Paul George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, teaming up with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. George opened his Thunder tenure with a 28-point debut against the New York Knicks and went on to enjoy one of the most prolific stretches of his career, reaching 40 points or more on multiple occasions. He was named a 2018 NBA All-Star as a replacement and averaged career-best scoring numbers alongside Westbrook.
In the 2018 playoffs, George helped the Thunder push the Utah Jazz to six games in the first round, setting an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight three-pointers in Game 1. Despite his stated preference to return to Southern California, George re-signed with the Thunder on July 6, 2018, on a reported four-year, $137 million contract. He continued to deliver highlight performances into the 2018–19 season, including a 47-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers, before being traded to the Clippers in July 2019.
Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)
On July 10, 2019, Paul George was sent from the Thunder to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the package that helped the franchise also sign Kawhi Leonard. After recovering from offseason shoulder surgeries, George debuted for the Clippers with 33 points against the New Orleans Pelicans and later dropped 37 points in just 20 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks. He and Leonard became the first duo in Clippers history to each score 40 points in the same game, with George posting 46 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Leonard adding 42.
George signed a four-year, $190 million contract extension with the Clippers in December 2020 and helped lead the franchise to its first Western Conference Finals appearance during the 2021 playoffs, recording a playoff career-high 41 points in a Game 5 win over the Phoenix Suns. He battled elbow and knee injuries over the next two seasons, including a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in December 2021, but continued to deliver 40-point games and clutch fourth-quarter performances. In April 2024, George scored 23 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter to complete the greatest comeback in Clippers history, a 26-point rally against the Golden State Warriors. After the Clippers were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Mavericks, George opted out of his player option and became a free agent.
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Paul George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining an Eastern Conference contender built around reigning MVP Joel Embiid. The deal is reported as a four-year, $212 million maximum contract that runs through the 2027–28 season. George brings elite two-way playmaking and playoff experience to a Philadelphia roster hoping to make a deep postseason run.
Driving Style and Strengths
George entered the league as a shooting guard before transitioning to small forward, where his combination of size, length, and athleticism allows him to defend multiple positions. He is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders and has developed into a reliable three-point shooter with the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. His basketball IQ and late-game shot-making have made him a trusted closer for multiple franchises.
Notable Events and Milestones
George was a member of the 2016 United States Olympic team that won gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games. He scored 41 points in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, finishing one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record. Other signature moments include his dramatic return from a compound leg fracture in 2015, his 47-point triple-double with the Thunder in February 2019, and his record-setting 26-point comeback win with the Clippers in April 2024.
Paul George Career Wins
Paul George has won numerous individual awards across his NBA career, including the 2013 NBA Most Improved Player Award, four All-Defensive Team selections, six All-NBA Team honors, and nine All-Star selections. He also won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2016 and has earned multiple Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards.
Regular Season and Playoff Highlights
George has reached the playoffs in most of his seasons as a featured player, leading the Indiana Pacers to three straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances from 2013 to 2015 and helping the Los Angeles Clippers reach their first-ever Western Conference Finals in 2021. He has recorded multiple 40-point games with every team he has played for, including a 48-point career high against the Utah Jazz in December 2015 and a 47-point triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2019.
Other Performances and Achievements
Beyond the NBA, George has represented the United States in international competition, winning Olympic gold in 2016. He has appeared in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2012 and 2014 and has been featured on the All-NBA Third Team, All-NBA Second Team, and All-NBA First Team at various points in his career. Fresno State retired his number 24 jersey in 2019 to honor his college contributions.
Paul George Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Paul George was raised by his parents, Paul George Sr. and Paulette George, in Palmdale, California, alongside his two older sisters, Teiosha and Portala. Both sisters competed in college athletics, with Teiosha playing basketball at Pepperdine and Portala playing volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino, which helped shape George’s competitive foundation. The family remained closely involved in his basketball journey throughout his high school and college career.
Personal Life
George is married to Daniela Rajic, with whom he became engaged in November 2020 and wed in June 2022. The couple has two daughters and a son named Paul George Jr. Off the court, George co-hosts the podcast “Podcast P with Paul George” alongside actor Jackie Long and longtime friend Dallas Rutherford, and he has maintained a long-standing endorsement deal with Nike, including a signature footwear and apparel line that ran from 2017 to 2022.
2025 Season Performance
Paul George enters his first full season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024–25 after signing a four-year maximum contract in July 2024. He is expected to serve as the team’s secondary scorer and primary perimeter defender alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving Philadelphia one of the most balanced rosters in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are positioned as a top contender in the East, with George tasked with providing two-way playmaking in the regular season and postseason.
Early results have shown George adjusting comfortably to his new surroundings, providing steady three-point shooting and switchable defense on a roster built to compete for an NBA championship. Philadelphia’s playoff picture depends heavily on staying healthy, with George, Embiid, and Maxey forming the core of a lineup designed for deep playoff runs. If the Sixers secure a top seed in the Eastern Conference, George will likely be a leading candidate for an All-Defensive Team selection and another All-Star nod.
Looking ahead, George remains under contract with Philadelphia through the 2027–28 season, giving the Sixers long-term stability at the small forward position. His combination of playoff experience, defensive versatility, and late-game scoring should remain central to Philadelphia’s championship aspirations in 2025 and beyond.