United States Men’s National Basketball team (Photo by Dick Dornan)
By Dick Dornan
MyBurbank Sports Editor
We are taking a detour from our Burbank coverage to travel 273 miles northeast to Las Vegas where our sports editor, Dick Dornan, spent a week recently at the USA Basketball men’s national team training camp as a volunteer for the USA Basketball media relations staff.
In the blink of an eye, a triumphant week of basketball was marred by an unfortunate and devastating injury to one of the game’s best young players. Feelings of hurt and pain filled the Thomas and Mack arena on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas as thousands of fans tried to cope with what had just occurred.
The USA Men’s Basketball Showcase on August 1 culminated four days of practice as the team began preparations for the FIBA World Cup of Basketball to be held at the end of this month.
As I sat 15 rows up as a member of the USA Basketball media relations staff, I witnessed the unthinkable and worse yet, the visual that is so hard to even erase from my mind today.
Paul George of the Indiana Pacers dribbles up court moments before the injury (Copyright 2014 NBAE; Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Fans cheered on every move of their beloved NBA heroes throughout the game as the White and Blue teams battled in an electric intrasquad scrimmage. But what ensued early in the fourth quarter created a hush that silenced everyone in attendance.
With the White team leading the Blue, 81-71, the White team’s James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder) was driving in for a layup when he was contested by Paul George (Indiana Pacers) of the Blue team. Seconds later, George made awkward contact with the basketball stanchion and crumbled to the floor suffering a gruesome injury.
He sustained an open tibia-fibula fracture in his lower right leg sending shrills to anyone who witnessed the injury up close. Harden walked away and squatted down with his head in the palm of his hands. Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers) cried in his fathers’ arms. Other players walked aimlessly around the court with the look of worry and concern etched across their faces.
After 20 minutes of medical attention, George was taken off the court on a stretcher to a chant of “Paul George” that serenaded from the heavens above. Both teams came together for a prayer and the game was cancelled with 9:33 remaining.
As fans filed out of the arena, I walked to the outside of the locker room where USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA coach Mike Krzyzewski were meeting with the team. Moments later, the players exited many of whom had tears in their eyes.
Krzyzewski and Colangelo, clearly distraught with emotion as well, met with the media shortly thereafter.
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward takes a jumpshot while myBurbank Sports Editor Dick Dornan watches (Copyright 2014 NBAE; Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
“We feel that USA Basketball, and the word is used a lot, is a family,” Krzyzewski said. “It should be a little bit of a safe haven for being yourself, getting better, developing relationships with different guys in the league. There’s a brotherhood in the NBA and to me, in moments like this, a family or a brotherhood shows its heart. It shows its depth. I thought that’s what our players showed during that time.”
On the way to the hospital, George remarkably tweeted, “Thanks everybody for the love and support. I’ll be ok and be back better than ever!!! Love y’all!”
This was my fourth stint with USA Basketball (1992 Dream Team, 2010, 2012, 2014) helping the media relations department in a volunteer capacity at training camp. Never before had I seen the NBA community rally around each other in such an inspiring way.
While they appear to be larger than life figures from afar, these grown men truly care about one another and the horrific injury to George brought a group of NBA players into a closed-knit circle of respect and love.
Players throughout the league took to twitter to express their support and sentiment for George.
In a singularly transformative moment, a group of 20 NBA players representing the United States of America became an instant family that could possibly define this team as it moves forward when the World Cup of Basketball is played August 30 to September 14 in Spain.
Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers had an impressive week of camp (Copyright 2014 NBAE; Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Though the injury cast a shadow that even the greatest magician in Las Vegas would have a tough time making disappear, there was plenty of superb action during the week. Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, Kevin Durant, 2011 MVP Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving turned in terrific performances as did George.
Durant unexpectedly decided to step aside recently and not play on Team USA for the remainder of the summer.
That didn’t deter 33-year-old sharpshooter Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks who understands how meaningful it would be to make the team.
“To represent your country is an amazing thing. Being around these guys helps you grow personally. When you are around excellence, your own standard gets raised. Your desire to hang and thrive in an environment like this makes you work harder,” Korver said. “It’s a good thing for me personally. To come here and be around this group of guys is great. People talk about going through the USA process and end up having great years after that. You come here and are not going to slouch around. You are going to bust your butt because you want to compete and do well.”
“It’s all about pulling for one another,” George said earlier in the week. “At the end of the day, we’re all we really have going over to Spain and playing for a gold medal.”
By George, he got it right. Everyone is pulling for one another especially for you, Paul. Here’s to a quick and healthy recovery and to Team USA to win another FIBA gold medal.
The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose explodes to the basket for two points during the intrasquad scrimmage (Copyright 2014 NBAE; Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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