Paul George has endured difficulty throughout his career, but the Thunder superstar learned how to persevere from his mother, who had a stroke when he was 6. [AP PHOTO]

Paul George realized something was wrong as soon as he saw the ambulance stop at his house.

Paramedics jumped out and rushed past him as he played basketball in the front yard. They went into the house, leaving the 6-year-old to wonder what was happening, but a few minutes later, the paramedics came out the door with George's mother on a stretcher.

His mom was having a stroke.

“She was pronounced dead at one point,” George said.