Paul George, nicknamed “PG-13,” is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics and a nine-time NBA All-Star known as one of the league’s best two-way wings. Born May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California, he was drafted 10th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2010 and has since starred for five NBA franchises, winning the 2013 Most Improved Player award and an Olympic gold medal in 2016.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Paul Clifton Anthony George |
|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1990, Palmdale, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (small forward) |
| Known for | 9× NBA All-Star; 2019 All-NBA First Team; 2013 NBA Most Improved Player; 2016 Olympic gold medalist |
| Teams | Pacers (2010–2017), Thunder (2017–2019), Clippers (2019–2024), 76ers (2024–2026), Celtics (2026–present) |
| Spouse | Daniela Rajic (married 2022) |
| Children | 3 (daughters Olivia and Natasha, son Paul Vuk) |
Early life and background
Paul Clifton Anthony George was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California, to Paul George Sr. and Paulette George (Wikipedia; TheSportsDB). Basketball ran in the family: he grew up with two older sisters who were both college athletes — Teiosha played basketball at Pepperdine University and Portala played volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino (BrowVoPetShop; Wikipedia).
George attended Knight High School in Palmdale before playing two seasons of college basketball at Fresno State (2008–2010), where his No. 24 jersey was later retired by the Bulldogs (Wikipedia). His rise from an unheralded high school recruit to a top-10 draft pick made him one of the great late-bloomer stories of his generation.
Career
Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)
The Indiana Pacers selected George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and he earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2011 (TheSportsDB). He broke out in 2013, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award, earning his first All-Star selection, and leading Indiana to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals battles against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in 2013 and 2014 — the very LeBron James duels that announced him as a star.
His ascent was nearly derailed in 2014, when he suffered a severe leg fracture during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas, costing him most of the 2014–15 season (TheSportsDB; BrowVoPetShop). He returned to All-Star form in 2016, the same year he won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the Rio de Janeiro Games (Wikipedia; TheSportsDB).
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)
George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, where he delivered the finest season of his career. In 2018–19 he averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, finished third in both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting, and earned All-NBA First Team honors (Basketball-Reference; GiveMeSport).
Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)
In 2019, George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers alongside the signing of Kawhi Leonard. During his five seasons in Los Angeles he averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists over 263 regular-season games, and helped the Clippers reach their first-ever Western Conference Finals in 2021 (ESPN; TheSportsDB).
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–2026)
In July 2024, George agreed to a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey (Reuters via GMA News; Field Level Media). His tenure in Philadelphia was interrupted in early 2026 by a reported 25-game suspension after a positive test for a banned medication; George said the substance was used to treat a mental health issue (Sole Retriever; Hoops Rumors).
Boston Celtics (2026–present)
In the summer of 2026, George was traded to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster that sent Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, with George and draft picks heading to Boston (USA Today; NESN). His Celtics debut on October 20, 2026, was historic: 38 points (12-for-21 shooting, 7-for-12 from three), five rebounds, three assists and five steals against the Detroit Pistons — the most points ever in a Celtics debut, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis’s 30 in 2023. He also moved into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list, though the Pistons rallied to win 121–113 (USA Today).
Major achievements
- 9× NBA All-Star (2013, 2014, 2016–2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) (Wikipedia)
- All-NBA First Team (2019); five-time All-NBA Third Team (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021) (StatMuse)
- Two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2014, 2019) and two-time All-Defensive Second Team (2013, 2016) (Wikipedia)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2013) and NBA steals leader (2019) (TheSportsDB)
- Olympic gold medal, 2016 Rio de Janeiro (TheFreeDictionary)
- Franchise record: most points in a Boston Celtics debut (38, Oct 20, 2026) (NESN)
Off the court and business ventures
George has been a Nike signature athlete since 2017, when his first signature shoe, the Nike PG1, debuted; Nike has been retroing the PG1 line through 2026 (Sports Illustrated; SneakerFreaker). He also hosts the popular Podcast P with Paul George podcast, which has become one of the most successful athlete-run shows (Sole Retriever; House of Heat).
Personal life
George is married to Daniela Rajic, a former dancer who co-founded the swimwear line Nude Swim. The couple got engaged in November 2020 and married in California in June 2022, and they have three children: daughters Olivia and Natasha, and a son, Paul Vuk (Surprise Sports; GH Gossip).
Net worth snapshot
Paul George’s net worth is estimated at approximately $110 million as of 2026, built on more than $400 million in reported career salary earnings — including his four-year, $212 million max contract with the 76ers — plus a long-running Nike signature-shoe line and endorsements worth an estimated $8–10 million a year. Read the full financial breakdown in Paul George’s net worth article, with the estimate methodology and earnings timeline.
FAQ
How old is Paul George?
Paul George was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California, making him 36 years old as of October 2026 (Wikipedia).
Which teams has Paul George played for?
The Indiana Pacers (2010–2017), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019), Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024), Philadelphia 76ers (2024–2026), and the Boston Celtics (2026–present) (TheSportsDB).
Why is Paul George nicknamed “PG-13”?
The nickname plays on his initials — “PG” — and his jersey number, No. 13, which he has worn for most of his NBA career (Wikipedia).
What is Paul George’s best season?
The 2018–19 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder: 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, finishing third in MVP voting and earning All-NBA First Team honors (Basketball-Reference).
Who is Paul George’s wife?
Paul George is married to Daniela Rajic, with whom he has three children. They married in California in June 2022 (Surprise Sports).
Sources
- Wikipedia — Paul George
- TheSportsDB — Paul George player profile
- USA Today — Pistons vs. Celtics, NBA season opener, Oct 20 2026
- USA Today — Paul George stats today, Celtics debut, Oct 20 2026
- NESN — Paul George stats vs. Pistons, Celtics debut
- Basketball-Reference — 2018–19 NBA Awards Voting
- Reuters (via GMA News) — Paul George signing 4-year, $212M deal with 76ers, July 2024
- Sports Illustrated — The story behind Paul George’s signature sneaker line
- ClutchPoints — Celtics news: Paul George’s first Boston bucket, Oct 20 2026
- Hoops Rumors — Celtics notes: George, Brown, Oct 18 2026