Candace Buckner

candace.buckner@indystar.com





LAS VEGAS — Now, the family of Indiana Pacers forward Paul George feels relief.

Sobs and a rush of tears had once filled the recovery room inside the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, and no one could answer the most difficult question: Why did this happen?

However by Saturday afternoon, the sense of comfort grew in Paul George Sr. every time he repeated the words.

His son will be OK.

George Sr. told The Star that his son suffered an "even break" in his right leg that will allow him to return at 100 percent. Though George is experiencing some pain, George Sr. displayed a smiling expression fitting the name of the medical center when he repeated the positive prognosis his son has received after undergoing successful surgery to repair an open tibia-fibula fracture. Doctors believe that the two-time All-Star will eventually return to his career with the same athletic capabilities as before.

"Paul's doing well now. He's doing good. He's just resting right now," George Sr. said. "If it had to break, it broke the right way. It broke evenly, so they're saying he should be back 100 percent. But of course, he's got to go through his long process of healing and getting back in the gym but they're saying that shouldn't stop him from doing what he was doing once he's healthy again."

While George Sr. indicated it's probable that his son will miss the 2014-15 season, the timetable will be judged after he returns to Indianapolis on Monday.

"We're saying the whole year," George Sr. said. "With an injury like that, you need some time off.

"Doctors said give him at least three months before he can start putting weight on it. Then he said from there it's up to him how far he can go with it. We'll have to play it by ear. He's hurting. He still can't believe that this has happened."

Eyes closed and stomachs turned when George, 24, suffered the shocking injury in the fourth quarter of the USA Men's Basketball instrasquad showcase held at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus. George attempted to chase down a fast break by James Harden but crashed into the basketball stanchion located beyond the baseline. George Sr. said he did not immediately grasp the gravity of the injury from his seat in Section 118 but once the crowd of more than 12,000 grew deathly silent, he knew something horrible had just happened.

A towel covered George's leg by the time George Sr. and wife Paulette made their way to the floor, but their son had already looked down and saw his bone piercing his flesh. In spite of this gruesome sight, George tried to reassure his father.

"I'm alright, Dad." George said. "I'm alright."

While George Sr. admits that immediately following the injury tears came and went, he describes his son as showing a steely resolve. Still, sometimes, even George — who played in an NBA postseason game just days after being diagnosed with a concussion and recovered from bunion surgery on both feet as a freshman in college at an extraordinary pace — has had his moments.

"He keeps saying, 'Why me? Why me?' " George Sr. said. "Hey, we don't know. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to take it and build off of it.

"He's already saying, 'Dad, I can't wait. When I get past this, I'm going to be even better.' He's going to be alright. He just hates that he can't go with them on this journey."

Then, the father's voice began to break.

"But hey, like they say, everything happens for a reason."

Much like his son, the deluge of supportive tweets, text messages and calls has encouraged George Sr., whose cell phone battery drained from all the missed calls. Through late Friday night, his son's visitor log was filled with well-wishers from James Harden's mother to New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis. Even while recovering on Saturday, the outpouring of support continued for George. Besides being surrounded by his entire family — which includes two older sisters — USA men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski made a return visit, as did Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard who walked out of the hospital with a group that included George's agent as well as a Nike representative.

"He was overwhelmed with everybody reaching out to him. I think that takes away some of the pain when you know that people care for you," George, Sr. said. "Larry Bird's been calling … Larry's been calling left and right, (asking,) 'How is he? Do I need to come out there?' "

George, Sr. took a break from his daylong vigil in the hospital late Saturday afternoon. He wore a simple white T-shirt and a camouflage Pacers baseball cap and looked relaxed. He joked about the ridiculous comments his son had made while on pain medication — apparently, George thought ice chips came in assorted flavors — and counted all the silver linings to this misfortune, such as the Brooklyn Nets team physician, Riley Williams, being present at the surgery, which was performed by local Las Vegas doctors.

Also, George Sr. said the Pacers have arranged the team plane to return him to Indianapolis. He has a sense of optimism that his son can continue his ascension in the NBA. The words pour out like an affirmation. The more George Sr. says them, the easier they become to believe.

"What he went through last night, today I can breathe a little better. We feel a lot better. Talked to the doctor again today and (he) looked at Paul's leg and said, 'Hey, it's already healing,' " George Sr. said. "The worst of it was yesterday. That's something you don't want to see happen to anybody.

"I had to go and break down a few times, but you know he's going to be alright. He's going to be alright. He's going to be alright."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.