The NBA world took a collective deep breath after Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George stayed down on the court for several minutes on Tuesday night. George’s knee collided with that of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort’s knee. He landed awkwardly and was carted off the Crypto.com Arena floor with his right leg extended. He was later seen on crutches before leaving the arena Tuesday night, per The Athletic’s Law Murray.
The Clippers received news on George’s status on Wednesday and according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers star underwent imaging that revealed a sprained right knee. George will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks, which means he’ll likely miss the remainder of the regular season.
The NBA world reacted to the news, as George appears to have avoided a serious knee injury.
“Losing Paul George for multiple weeks is incredibly tough, but nothing being torn after that scary collapse is absolutely great news,” wrote Joey Linn, who covers the Clippers for Sports Illutsrated’s Fan Nation. “Get well soon, PG.”
Losing Paul George for multiple weeks is incredibly tough, but nothing being torn after that scary collapse is absolutely great news.
Get well soon, PG. 🙏
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 22, 2023
“The Clippers and Paul George appear to have dodged the worst-case scenario with his right knee injury,” said Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times. “The team says that imaging determined that George suffered a sprained right knee and that George will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks.”
The Clippers and Paul George appear to have dodged the worst-case scenario with his right knee injury. The team says that imaging determined that George suffered a sprained right knee and that George will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) March 22, 2023
Some fans and those in the basketball world had differing reactions to the news of George’s injury diagnosis.
⭐️Currently the 5 seed
⭐️1 1/2 ahead of #7 OKC (who also has 1st rd. swap rights)
⭐️2 1/2 ahead of #11 LAL
⭐️6-11 in games George did not playOKC
New Orleans
Chicago
at Memphis
at Memphis
at New Orleans
LAL
Portland
at Phoenix https://t.co/F4peYcHjUv— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 22, 2023
Sounds like the Clippers might not have PG if they fall into the play-in tournament. Ruh roh. https://t.co/4XZDrfPhmS
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) March 22, 2023
If the injury to Paul George means more minutes for Russell Westbrook, Clippers are toast
— Ogi (@ogiczv) March 22, 2023
– Paul George got the best possible news after how his knee looked last night during that injury. He can really be back by the start of the playoffs, or maybe game 2 or 3 thanks to the play-in.
The play-in takes about half of a week to a week.
— Sean M. Greene ll (@sean_incredible) March 22, 2023
"I don't know that Paul George is playing for the Clippers again this year bc I don't know that they're making the playoffs. The Play-in I believe they'll make. … The SGA trade is looking like an all-time disaster." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/YDevYl6GjF
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 22, 2023
6th seed doesn’t sound too bad right now https://t.co/q5zOzegKUJ
— GeorgeSzn 🥽 (@UnooHonest) March 22, 2023
The ligament is undetermined as of now. The degree of severity is undetermined as of now.
There is a wide range of outcomes. The only thing certain is that Paul George has a season-threatening injury.
— Law Murray 🐦🔥 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 22, 2023
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.