Paul George didn't suffer the same injury as Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear, but he knows the emotions that come with a potentially career-altering injury firsthand. During a 2014 scrimmage with Team USA, the six-time All-NBA selection suffered a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula.
Not only can George relate to what Tatum is going through, but two years later, in his first full season back, he was an All-Star again. It's a testament to the work he put in to ensure that his injury, traumatic as it was, doesn't define him. That's exactly what Tatum vowed in the aftermath of his Achilles tear.
After George's Philadelphia 76ers recently beat the Charlotte Hornets 118-114, the 16-year veteran shared that when he saw what happened to Tatum at Madison Square Garden last postseason, he quickly reached out to the Boston Celtics star forward.
"I reached out to him when it initially happened, just to tell him I'm praying for him, and hoping for a speedy recovery, and that God's got him -- he's in good hands," said George during his post-game media availability. "So we talked a little bit, but not necessarily through the process.
"People go through their things. I told him, I'm here if you need anything -- I wanted to leave the door open if he wanted, but people go through injuries [their own way]."
Paul George's message to Jayson Tatum
Tatum has repeatedly voiced his gratitude for the support system around him. That includes his family, Celtics' physical therapist and athletic trainer Nick Sang, his teammates, coaches, and an organization that has been with him every step of the way on this journey.
Still, whether it was rehabbing while his teammates practiced, watching them play from the bench, or fighting through the emotions and the time it takes to return from a severe injury, there are moments of loneliness. It's a part of a trying recovery that tests individuals accustomed to feeling like a superhero, both physically and mentally.
"This is almost something that you've got to figure out and learn on your own," expressed George. "I've learned that through injuries, it can make you or could break you, and so you've got to go through it on your own to see what you're made of, to come out of that, because you're going to come out a different player.
"And there's nothing that I could tell you to prepare you for that, because there's going to be good days and there's going to be bad days, and that's just the nature of the injury. So again, that's something that you've got to get through on your own."