Basketball followers probably will not ever mistake the 2010 class for one of many extra stacked Twenty first-century teams, similar to 2003 (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade) and 2011 (Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler).
With 9 All-Star honors, six All-NBA nods and 4 All-Defensive staff appearances, Paul George is clearly probably the most achieved member of the drafted gamers from 14 years in the past. PG-13 was chosen tenth out of Fresno State behind the likes of Wesley Johnson (fourth total) and Ekpe Udoh (sixth total) and only one spot after Hayward.
George, Hayward, DeMarcus Cousins (fifth total) and John Wall (first total) have been all top-10 picks and the one 4 gamers from the category to make an All-Star staff, regardless of 51 of the 60 picks in 2010 enjoying a minimum of one recreation within the NBA. Wall was a five-time All-Star and made one All-NBA and All-Defensive staff whereas Cousins was a four-time All-Star and two-time member of an All-NBA squad. Hayward made his lone All-Star staff in 2016-17.
Every member of the trio had their profession impacted by a number of severe accidents, nonetheless.
Hayward cashed in on his All-Star marketing campaign by signing with the Boston Celtics in July 2017 however suffered a season-ending fractured tibia and dislocated ankle simply 5 minutes into the 2017-18 season opener. Each Cousins and Wall missed your entire 2019-2020 season with ACL and Achilles accidents, respectively, by no means absolutely recapturing their type.
George hasn’t escaped debilitating illnesses both, as he went down with a compound fracture of each bones in his decrease proper leg in a freak incident throughout an intra-squad scrimmage for the FIBA Basketball World Cup U.S. nationwide staff on Aug. 1, 2014. He did not return to the Indiana Pacers till April and performed in simply six contests that season.
George bounced again higher than ever although, enjoying in all 81 video games through the 2015-16 season and beginning a streak of 4 consecutive All-Star campaigns.
He is probably the one member of the category of 2010 to have a practical shot of creating the Basketball Corridor of Fame and regardless that he simply turned 34, nonetheless appears to have loads left within the tank. George made his ninth All-Star staff this previous season, ending the marketing campaign averaging 22.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.5 assists with a career-high .471/.413/.907 capturing line.
All that is left for him is to make an NBA Finals and whereas the Celtics would be the Jap Convention favourite for the 2024-25 season, George has a shot as he is ever had at successful a title after teaming up with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on the Philadelphia 76ers within the offseason.
