Injured George targets November return

Kawhi Leonard (2), Paul George and head coach Doc Rivers pose for a photograph during the LA Clippers media day at Honey Training Center on 29 September 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (AFP)

Paul George will not be playing alongside Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers until at least November because of off-season shoulder surgeries, ESPN reported Sunday.

George, who joined NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Leonard in leaving his team to play for the Clippers starting this season, told the US sports television network he would miss the entire pre-season and at least the first 10 days of the upcoming season.

“I will be out of the preseason,” George said. “As of now, I’ll be out of October fully, but who knows? We’ll see. In the November range is our target date.”

The Clippers signed Leonard after he departed the Toronto Raptors, having led the club to the NBA title in his lone Canadian season after a trade deal from San Antonio.

One of the things Leonard wanted in order to join the Clippers was the chance to play alongside George, who was obtained in a trade deal with Oklahoma City.

George comes off a season in which he produced 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and an NBA-best 2.2 steals a game for the Thunder.

The Clippers open the regular season 22 October against the Los Angeles Lakers, then face the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs. If George indeed misses all of October, that’s at least six games for which the Clippers would be without one of their two new superstars to start the season.

George, 29, underwent right rotator cuff surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder in May, and a minor surgery to repair a partial tear of his left labrum in June.

The Clippers traded for the perennial All-Star in July with the expectation he’d miss training camp and potentially the start of the season as he recover from his injuries. (With a report from ESPN)