As Paul George was on a seismic rise, pushing the prime Miami Heat to their limits in the postseason, his life suddenly seemed to change. In pursuit of James Harden, an awkward landing led to a compound fracture of George’s tibia and fibula. Players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving saw it unfold in horror, and a concerned father, Paul George Sr. came rushing down to check on his son.

As devastating as this sounds, it was a single, life-changing phone call from Kobe Bryant in 2014 provided Paul George the strength to recover from one of the most devastating injuries of his career.

George’s father, Paul George Sr., recalled on Podcast P how his son was devastated by the injury but found solace in Kobe’s words. “Of course, they give him something for the pain now. They get ready to bring him in for the surgery and the medicine was starting to work in. And his agent Aaron, for some reason he got Mr. Bryant on the phone. Kobe.”

“So he gives the phone to Paul. So him and Paul just talking on the phone and then when he gets done he says ‘Guess who I was talking to?’. I said who. He’s lying there, he’s smiling now and he’s like I just got done talking to Kobe Bryant!,” Paul George Sr. recalled.

Even before the anesthesia kicked in, for George those words were the perfect anecdote. “Attack rehab the same way you attack working out on the court,” Paul George revealed.

Despite being half-conscious because of medications, George remembered those words and began working on his shots on his personal basketball court. His father watched, holding back tears, as his son started the long road to recovery.

Bryant too had suffered his first major injury in 2013, tearing his ACL. Utilizing his Mamba Mentality, he approached rehabbing with the same curiosity and enticement he would a basketball workout.

Team USA stuck with Paul George throughout the healing process

Camaraderie and brotherhood are a major trait in the NBA. Even though teams might create rivalries, competing forms deep bonds. Paul George Sr saw it materialize right in front of his eyes as the players showed tremendous support during his son’s worst phase. Apart from stopping the game and sending their collective thoughts on the court, they also made efforts to stick with him in the hospital.

“Every NBA player was in the hospital. They were all there. I mean, they were all in the hallway. Everybody was there. So when it comes to NBA love, I do see it. When one of their ones is down, they all stick,” Paul George’s father detailed.

Ultimately, the advice from his childhood idol and the love of his teammates enabled PG13 to keep his spirits up. Nine months of intense rehab later, George returned to the court to a rapturous ovation from the crowd. Even though the injury could have been career-altering, his optimism allowed him to find a way around his injury. Paul George altered his game and became ‘Mr. Smooth’.

It just goes to show how companionship and a few golden words could change one’s life. It did for Paul George, at least.