INDIANAPOLIS – As soon as Paul George crumpled in a heap under the basket during Team USA's scrimmage two weeks ago in Las Vegas, he knew something was horribly wrong.

The bone protruding through the skin of his right leg told him as much. As did the pain coursing through him.

"It felt like gasoline was on my leg and someone lit a match," George said. "Just internally, just on fire. My leg felt like it was in flames. It was a quick five minutes and then my body went into shock, and I immediately took my mind off of what just happened thanks to my docs, my family, both of my parents coming by my side, my teammates coming over.

"…It just felt like a burning sensation throughout my whole leg."

George met Friday with reporters for the first time since breaking his right leg during USA Basketball's scrimmage on Aug. 1. The Indiana Pacers guard used crutches to walk with his right leg encased in a cast from the knee down. The two-time All-Star has a rod in his right leg, which was broken in two places, with pins holding it together in his knee and ankle. He also has begun meeting with a team sports psychologist.

While George has "a little hope" about playing next season, he said it could take a year for him to recover and admits it's likely he will not play. He hopes to begin strengthening exercises next week.

View photos Paul George is using crutches to walk after breaking his right leg. (AP) More

"I've been talking to the Pacers staff and my whole training staff and it's really a day-to-day process right now," George said. "I'm really taking it one day at a time. We don't want to put a date on it or put a timeframe on it. I understand that some days I will feel good. Some days I will feel bad. But once I feel great, I know the whole staff will know when it's 'go time.'

"It's something that I think I can overcome. It's a bump in the road, but I will be able to battle through this. It will be a story that I can tell, a testimony that I will have and something that will make me stronger going forward. I don't think it will affect me in a negative way."

George has watched the video replay of his gruesome injury, which happened after his right foot awkwardly crashed into the stanchion at the bottom of the basket after he tried to block teammate James Harden's shot.

"I watched it one time and that will be the last time I see that video," George said. "I really want to put all that behind me."

George's injury has prompted a debate over whether NBA players should play for USA Basketball. He thinks any criticism of USA Basketball is unfair and he still hopes to play for the 2016 Olympic team.

"I can personally say it was a freak accident," George said. "No one has really been injured since USA Basketball has been here. I've never seen someone take a huge injury. I just think it just happened. Freak accidents happen.

"It sucks I was on the bad side of it, but they don't deserve any criticism for this. I would love to still be a part of Team USA in 2016. At the end of the day it's all about representing our country and bringing home the gold."

George expressed thanks for the support he has received from U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and managing director Jerry Colangelo. USA Basketball players will each wear a patch on their shooting shirts in George's honor in the exhibition games prior to the upcoming World Cup in Spain.

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