An NBA championship may have proven elusive for Paul George . However, he hasn't failed in a particular aspect not every superstar can boast of—being an inspiration to the younger generation. Legends like Michael Jordan , Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James all had players who looked up to them, but they all had something in common—a championship ring.
For younger talents, trying to model their games after No. 8 says a lot about his ravishing playstyle on the court. Take it from a player with one of the smoothest jump shots in the NBA and George's former teammate at Oklahoma City, Carmelo Anthony. During an episode of "7pm in Brooklyn," Melo made it clear why players try to emulate George's game.
"It's a flow and it's a pace, let me say that," says the retired NBA star. "PG's got a different pace than a lot of people. He's got his own pace and you're not gonna speed him up, right, and he makes it look effortless and I think that's where he catches that flack."
Play like Paul George
It's not something anyone can necessarily control—setting a standard and style of play that is worth emulating. However, the freshly inked Philadelphia 76ers star did that within 14 years in the NBA. It all started during his first seven years in Indiana.
Drafted to a 32-win team in 2010, the young George wasn't immediately expected to get the franchise up off the ground. However, not even 3 years would pass before the forward led Indiana to a second-place finish in the Central Division.
The forward helped the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals twice, in 2013 and 2014, where he famously battled a prime James for the right to earn an NBA Finals appearance. His time in Indy will forever be encapsulated by the 29-footer he sank over the outstretched fingertips of the league MVP, sending a riveting Game 1 of the 2013 ECF to overtime.
A season later, George made a passionate push towards a league MVP of his own, leading the Pacers to a 56-win season, tying the franchise's most wins since the 1999 season. He was a four-time All-Star with the team and grew into an All-NBA talent in the Circle City.
"It's so effortless," Melo continued. "He look like he ain't working hard… some guys had to work hard as (expletive) to get to this spot. He's coming off smooth, he's skipping with it, he's travelling with it, carrying it, he makes it look good. So anybody in those positions whichever level you're on, that's who they want, that's the makeup and they want to play like that, they want to carry themselves like that… like this is how they want to play."
Melo agrees with PGs' rising popularity among younger players due to his skill set. Even Melo's son, Kiyan Anthony, ranked No. 45 in ESPN's 2024 top 60 recruiting class, lists George as his GOAT. This shows just how influential the 34-year-old has become, even if he doesn't always get the spotlight he deserves.
Continued legacy
From Indiana to Oklahoma City to LA, a championship just seems out of reach for George, albeit playing alongside some big names like Kawhi Leonard , Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. His next chapter is with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia — history says — it won't be easy to deliver a championship with Embiid's unpredictable health. There were also talks about a move to Golden State which might have made more sense playing alongside Steph Curry .
However, Embiid and PG in coalition with the rising Tyrese Maxey might just be the missing link to their ring aspirations. However, only time will tell whether he wins a championship or not. In the meantime, the nine-time All-Star won't stop being a model player for the future generations of NBA superstars.
Related: “My whole body was full of ice packs because I was just so beat up” – Paul George details the price he paid when he defended Carmelo Anthony
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