LAS VEGAS — Paul George of the Indiana Pacers underwent surgery on his broken right leg and is expected to remain hospitalized for about three days.

The 6-foot-10 George had surgery to repair the compound tibia-fibula fracture, USA Basketball said in a statement Saturday.

George suffered the gruesome injury late in the U.S. national team’s intrasquad scrimmage Friday night. He leaped to contest a fast-break layup by James Harden with 9:33 left and his leg smashed against the bottom of the backboard stanchion and crumpled.

Trainers immediately ran onto the floor and after roughly 10 minutes, George was taken out of the arena on a stretcher. With players visibly upset, Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that the scrimmage wouldn’t be finished out of respect to George and his family.

Larry Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations, issued a statement saying it’s too early to start talking about George’s return.

“We are hopeful at some point next week Paul will return to Indianapolis to continue his recovery,” Bird said. “There is no question about the impact on our team but our goal is to be as strong-willed and determined as Paul will be in coming back. Our franchise has had setbacks in its history but has demonstrated the abilities to recover. Paul will provide the example of that off the court and it is up to the rest of us to provide that example on the court.”

Bird also said the Pacers are committed to the national team.

“This is a first for us in USA Basketball, to have something like this,” said the USA Basketball chairman, Jerry Colangelo. “It’s a tough situation for our entire organization, the coaches, the players. Very, very emotional. There’s no way the game could have gone on.”

Doctors estimate a full recovery could take as much as 18 months.

Dr. Patrick Kersey, who treated Louisville guard Kevin Ware when he sustained a similar injury in the NCAA tournament in 2013, said George will likely need 6 to 12 weeks to recover from surgery and another 6 to 10 weeks to get back to a normal walking gait. Kersey is not treating George.

A complete recovery, Kersey said, normally takes 12 to 18 months, though the fact George is an elite athlete in top shape could speed up that timeframe.

Copy the Story Link