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George still working his way back
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Paul George was hoping to return to play for the Indiana Pacers this weekend. Now he’s not so sure he’ll play at all this season.
The Pacers guard told reporters at practice on Friday that he was concerned his return would affect the team’s chemistry. The Pacers have won seven consecutive games and 13 of the last 15.
“I’m on the fence,” George said. “Part of me is, they’re playing so well, they’ve come together, to shake up the chemistry and add another body, another player in there … I don’t want to be that guy that destroys what these guys have going.”
The two-time All-Star said he feels good about his recovery from a broken right leg that he suffered while playing for Team USA in an exhibition on Aug. 1.
“This week’s Paul George is blowing the Paul George of the last two to three weeks out of the water,” he said.
George said he’s evaluating his status day by day with no return date set in stone. When he does return, he just wants to fit in.
“It’s different if this was the beginning of the year and we were still trying to find our way,” George said. “But these guys are playing at the top of their game right now and the last thing I want to do is slow them down.”
