George named seven-time NBA All-Star

NEW YORK – Paul George, who starred on the Fresno State men's basketball team from 2008-10, has earned his seventh NBA All-Star team selection, the National Basketball Association announced on Tuesday.

The 70th NBA All-Star Game will be held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Sunday, March 7th at 5 p.m. PST on TNT.

George will make his seventh career All-Star appearance (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013) and his first with the Clippers. George joins Kawhi Leonard, who Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson recruited to and coached during his time at San Diego State, as an All-Star this season.

In his 11th NBA season, George is averaging career highs in assists (5.5), 3-point field goal percentage (47.1), and field goal percentage (51.1). The dynamic forward currently leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (min. 7.0 3PA) and is the only player averaging at least 24 points while shooting better than 45% from beyond the arc. George also ranks third in offensive rating (120.5) and fourth in net rating (13.3).

George has scored 30 points or more in four games this season and 20 points or more in 16 games. He has also made at least five three-pointers in eight games, tied for the fourth-most in the league. On February 3 against Cleveland, George became the first player in franchise history to make eight three-pointers or more in two games. George has made at least six three-pointers in 11 games with the Clippers, the most such games in franchise history.

The 2012-13 NBA Most Improved Player holds career averages of 24.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals.

George, a native of Palmdale, Calif., has become a bonafide NBA superstar after shining for two seasons at Fresno State before being drafted No. 10 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. George spent his first seven seasons (2010-17) in the NBA with the Pacers and two seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) before becoming a member of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.

George is one of 31 former Bulldogs to play in the NBA and one of three currently on NBA rosters (Tyler Johnson – Brooklyn Nets and Paul Watson, Toronto Raptors).

As a sophomore at Fresno State, George delivered the program's most efficient season at the free throw line (120-132, 90.9 percent), ranked as one of the top 20 sophomore NCAA scorers, and averaged 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.4 percent (154-363) from the field and 35.3 percent (122-308) on 3-point attempts. He scored a career-high 30 points in his first game back from an ankle injury in early February 2010.

Meanwhile as a freshman, George quickly made national waves with the No. 1 play of the day on ESPN's Sportscenter after dunking on a pair of Saint Mary's defenders in November 2008 and finished the season as one of the top 15 freshmen scorers in the country. Sports Illustrated tabbed George as the Most Entertaining Player in the West in Fall 2009.

Fresno State retired George's No. 24 jersey in November 2019 during a halftime ceremony at the Save Mart Center. George is one of two former Bulldog men's basketball student-athletes to have their jerseys retired, along with Jerry Tarkanian, who played at Fresno State from 1954-55 and later returned to the San Joaquin Valley as the Bulldogs' head coach from 1995-2002.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

George named seven-time NBA All-Star

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