Paul George Era (2010–2017)

Lore & Background

Paul George's arrival in Indiana coincided with a franchise in transition. After the departure of the 'Malice at the Palace' core, the Pacers were searching for a new identity. George, with his lanky frame and explosive athleticism, became the face of a blue-collar revival. Alongside Roy Hibbert, David West, and George Hill, he anchored a defense that suffocated opponents and a slow-paced offense that maximized his isolation scoring. The 2012–13 season was the apex: George won Most Improved Player, earned his first All-Star nod, and pushed LeBron James and the Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals—a series that included a memorable Game 1 upset and a 37-point outburst in Game 2.

In Their Own Story

The lights dimmed at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as the crowd roared. It was Game 1 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, and the Pacers were supposed to be overmatched. But Paul George, just 23, had other plans. With a calm that belied his years, he rose over LeBron James for a three-pointer, then stripped Dwyane Wade on the next possession. The arena shook as he sank a step-back jumper, silencing the doubters. For one night, the kid from Palmdale was the best player on the floor, and Indiana believed again.

Reader's Guide

The Paul George Era is remembered as a time of renewed hope and bitter heartbreak. After years of mediocrity, George's emergence gave the Pacers a legitimate superstar and a system built on defensive tenacity. The team's 2013 and 2014 playoff runs—both ending at the hands of the Miami Heat—cemented a rivalry that defined the early 2010s Eastern Conference. George's gruesome leg injury in 2014 during a Team USA scrimmage threatened to derail everything, but his triumphant return in 2015 (averaging 23.1 points per game) proved his resilience. However, the team never recaptured its peak chemistry, and after a first-round exit in 2017, George requested a trade. He was dealt to Oklahoma City in July 2017, ending an era that, while short, restored the Pacers' relevance and showcased the power of a small-market team built around a homegrown star. For fans, it was a reminder that even in a league of superteams, a draft pick from a mid-major could make the whole state believe.

Did You Know?

• Paul George was drafted 10th overall in 2010, one pick after the Utah Jazz selected Gordon Hayward.
• He won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award in 2013, averaging 17.4 points per game that season.
• George suffered a compound fracture of his right leg in August 2014 during a Team USA intrasquad scrimmage, missing most of the 2014–15 season.
• He led the Pacers to a 56-win season in 2013–14, the franchise's best record since the 2003–04 campaign.