NBA star Paul George has been playing in the league for over a decade now. After getting selected by the Indiana Pacers in the 2010 Draft, George took part in his first playoffs the very next year. The Fresno State alumnus recently recalled his very first playoff experience with the Pacers and shared a particular moment that ended up shaping his career and earning him the nickname Playoff P.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward is known for his zeal to guard the best player in every game. However, he did not always have that kind of enthusiasm until his first postseason matchup with a generational talent.

Paul George recalls his first playoff series

The 8x NBA All-Star recently released a new episode of Podcast P with Paul George, where he talked about a significant turning point in his career. While talking about his first playoffs, George recalled the moment he was assigned to guard prime Derrick Rose during the 2011 postseason series. At the time, the former Chicago Bulls star was in one of his best seasons, and his MVP status made a rookie PG second guess his ability as a player.

His initial reaction was, as he shared, “‘Wait what? I just started playing. This is my first experience, like ‘Y’all trust me guarding the MVP?'” George eventually decided to accept it as a challenge and gave his best on the court.

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Addressing D-Rose’s prowess on the court, he added, “That year, bro he was untouchable. You know what I mean, like he was untouchable. Like, he looked like he was bigger than what he was, looked like he was taller than what he was. Like, he just had a stature that was bigger than what he was.”

George further stated that playing against one of the best players of the season taught him quite a lot. His experience from the 2011 playoff series helped him boost his career further in the league. He believed that ‘if I can guard him, I can match up with anybody’.

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George compares prime D-Rose to Ja Morant

When George’s co-host asked what made the 2011 MVP so special, he replied that Derrick Rose displayed strong and swift movements during the games. Recalling Rose’s on-court skills, George stated that the Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has similar abilities. He said, “He[Rose] had that bully in him. Like, he was bigger body, he was quick, he was fast. His first step was like he’s gonna blow by you and his ability to contort his body.”

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Furthermore, he added, “I’ve never seen anybody else other than Ja [Morant]. Like, I’ve never seen anybody else that had that ability.”

Do you agree with George’s list of similarities between Morant and Rose? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!