Paul George talks Pacers' offseason moves, 2016 Olympics

AVON – Give up an Olympic dream because of an inconvenience like a broken leg?

Not happening. Not to Paul George.

The Indiana Pacers forward affirmed Saturday that he wants to be on the U.S. basketball team playing in next summer’s Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro.

“Of course,” he said. “I’ve had a dream of lifting that gold medal. That’s definitely motivation.”

That doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. George, who was at Avon High School for the youth camp that bears his name, said he won’t attend next month’s USA Basketball mini-camp at Las Vegas.

It was at Las Vegas where he broke his leg last Aug. 1 in a grisly collision with a basket stanchion at a national team scrimmage. George returned to the Pacers for six games but was sidelined again by a calf injury.

He said he notices things “that are not PG-characteristic” but otherwise feels great.

“It almost seems like it happened ages ago,” he said of the broken leg. “I forget sometimes it was only less than a year. It hasn’t really been in the back of my mind anymore. I’m kind of beyond that phase. That’s the good thing.

“I’m not going to work, having flashbacks or thinking about coming down wrong. I’ve just been out on the court playing, just working out.”

He said he has told U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski of his desire to play in Rio. George said Pacers President Larry Bird, a member of the original 1992 Dream Team, is supportive.

“Larry, of all people, knows how important it is to play and represent for your country,” George said. “So regardless of the situation, I know he’s got my back on that one. And it’s a personal goal.

“I won’t let injury … injury is a part of the game. The last thing I’ll do is let that keep me from making the dream happen. No hard feelings towards none of the situation.”

He said his body “held up well” during pickup games, including those at a recent Nike Basketball Academy for college and high school players in Los Angeles, where George spends most of the summer. It was there that he helped Nike introduce a new shoe, the Nike Hyperdunk 2015 Low.

George said it would be “probably smart for me, health-wise,” to rest rather than play in the Aug. 11-13 minicamp. He said he will leave soon for the Philippines and China, appearing on behalf of Nike.

In addressing other subjects, George said:

>> He was indifferent to playing power forward, although he seemed less than convinced he could do so regularly. “I’m a ballplayer. You put me anywhere on the court, I’m going to make the most out of it,” he said. “It’s not going to be logging 30 minutes at the power forward. Whatever needs to be done. If I’ve got to play a couple of minutes at the power forward, I’m fine with it.”

>> He liked the Pacers’ commitment to a faster tempo, acquisition of Monta Ellis and re-signing of Rodney Stuckey. He said those players would open up the floor for himself, George Hill and C.J. Miles. “I didn’t know it would be a drastic roster change, but I knew that was the direction this team needed to go to give ourselves a better chance of winning,” George said.

>> He had spoken to former teammates David West and Roy Hibbert, who are now with the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. “It’s rough, but I felt like those two, Roy and David, kind of molded me and really guided me and helped me along the way to be in the position I’m in now to lead a team,” George said. “We’re a pretty veteran group still, but not in terms of how long we’ve played together.”

>> He had watched videotape and highlights of rookies Joe Young and Myles Turner in the Orlando Summer League. Young (22.5) and Turner (18.7) were the Nos. 1 and 3 scorers in the league, respectively. Both rookies were at George’s Avon camp. “I’m excited to see what they can do on the court,” George said.

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.