LeBron on Paul George's concussion: 'All of us would've played through it'
Paul George needs to pass more concussion tests before being cleared for Game 3 against the Heat.
(Michael Conroy/AP)
The Indiana Pacers' Paul George suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals after taking a knee to the head late in the fourth quarter. The team's doctors said they were unaware of his symptoms after he went back into the game, but it soon became clear after he told reporters he "blacked out" that he had suffered a concussion.
Miami Heat star LeBron James defended George's actions on Thursday, saying anyone would have taken the same steps given the circumstances.
“I think every last player in the final four would have played through it,” James said Thursday, according to Pro Basketball Talk's Brett Pollakoff. “This is the conference finals, and obviously, a concussion is very serious. Our concussion test is not as extensive as the NFL. It doesn’t happen as much. I think all of us would have played through it under the circumstances.”
The Pacers' David West echoed James' comments, saying it's "difficult" to take yourself out of a game in that situation. He added, though, that "you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself long term.”
Game 3 between the Pacers and Heat is Saturday night in Miami. George must follow the NBA’s concussion protocol, which requires a player be symptom-free and cleared by an independent doctor before he can return to the court.
