Paul George suffers broken leg: United States and NBA star suffers horrific broken leg that rules him out of the World Cup
George had been a shoe-in for the squad but suffered the sickening injury during an inter-team practice
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Your support makes all the difference.Indiana Pacers and United States basketball star Paul George suffered a horrific broken leg during a training camp session in Las Vegas that has ended his hopes of playing in the World Cup for his nation.
The two-time NBA all-star was carried away on a stretched after landing awkwardly on his right leg after jumping to contest the ball with US team-mate James Jarden during an inter-squad match.
George’s leg collapsed as he landed, with his team-mates left sickened and shocked at the injury sustained by their colleague.
The injury is a cruel blow to George given that he was a near-certainty for the squad that will contest the World Cup in Spain, which gets underway at the end of this month.
Warning: Video contains graphic content
Having harboured hopes of helping to defend the US’s world title, George now looks set for a lengthy lay-off, and will miss a large chunk of the 2014-15 NBA season.
NBA star LeBron James tweeted: “Man just landed and got a message about @Paul_George24. Made me immediately sick to my stomach!! Praying for u a speedy recovery homie!!!
“Hurt my stomach the moment I heard the news! I didn't want to believe it. Man I need u out there bro!”
The injury is the latest in a line of withdrawals from Team USA, who are already without key names such as Blake Griffin and Kevin Love.
The game was called off by USA Basketball’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who announced to the crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center that the intra-squad game had to be halted.
“It’s a tough situation for our entire organisation. Our coaches and players are very, very emotional,” the USA Basketball chairman, Jerry Colangelo, told reporters. “There’s no way the game could have gone on under the circumstances.”
NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, later added in a statement: “It was difficult to watch the injury that Paul George sustained tonight while representing his country. The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the NBA are with Paul and his family.”
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