Indiana Pacer Paul George suffered a severe lower right leg injury last night, with doctors confirming an open tibia-fibula fracture that will likely sideline the young All-Star for the entirety of the 2014-15 season.
The injury occurred during the U.S. national team’s intrasquad scrimmage at UNLV. While attempting a chase-down block of James Harden, George’s leg buckled upon hitting the base of the basket stanchion—a stanchion that was around two feet closer to the court than those used in NBA arenas.
The injury is one of the more gruesome ones in recent memory, so be warned that video and stills of the incident are fairly graphic. It’s also particularly difficult to watch given George’s position as the centerpiece of this Pacers team, one looking for leadership after a disappointing 2013-14 season and the departure of the ever-controversial Lance Stephenson. George underwent a successful surgery later in the night, but the small forward, arguably one of the 10 best players in the league, is probably facing at least a year of rehabilitation. Several players also expressed their support of the young star on Twitter.
