Paul George recently shared how the late Kobe Bryant played a pivotal role in his recovery from a severe leg injury in 2014.
George, who joined the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this offseason, recalled the moment before his surgery when Bryant reached out.
According to George’s father, Aaron Mintz, George’s agent, arranged a phone call with Bryant just before George was wheeled into the operating room.
“His agent, Aaron, for some reason, he got Mr. Bryant on the phone,” George Sr. said on Podcast P, via ClutchPoints. “So he gives the phone to Paul and so him and Paul are talking.”
George added that Bryant’s call was deeply motivating. “He was like, ‘The rehab is going to be tough. The work is going to be hard.’”
Bryant’s advice helped George approach his recovery with the same intensity he brought to the court.
“The work is going to be tedious, it’s going to be tiresome,” Bryant had warned. “Nobody wants to rehab. My advice is to attack rehab the same way you attack working out on the court.”
George noted that Bryant’s insights were crucial for staying mentally strong. “If he didn’t tell me that and warn me ahead of time, my mind would’ve been all over the place,” he said.
The call with Bryant, which came as George was drugged and about to undergo surgery, left a lasting impression.
George was initially expected to miss the entire 2014–15 season following a compound fracture of his lower right leg.
However, George made an impressive return on April 5, 2015, scoring 13 points in 15 minutes against the Miami Heat.
