Paul George ‘tired of rehabbing,’ doubtful for return Monday night vs. Toronto

Soon.

Probably not Monday night in Toronto, but soon Paul George will make his Clippers debut. He’s ready, he told Mark Medina of the USA Today he’s sick of just doing rehab.

“I’m tired of rehabbing,” George said. “It sucks.”

George had surgery on both shoulders this past summer and said he knew he had to stay patient during rehab, even though his instinct was to push through and get back on the court faster.

“I’m used to being in this rehab stage and knowing what it takes to get my body prepared,” George said. “It’s a long process. But with me going through it and having a drastic injury in my leg, I know what to expect. I know what pressure to put on myself and what pressure not to put on myself.”

Doc Rivers said it was possible but doubtful that George would play on Monday against the Raptors. However, a return to the court this week seems likely. The Clippers have a road back-to-back Wednesday in Houston then Thursday in New Orleans, one of those two games — but not both — seems a likely landing spot.

The Clippers are 6-3 without George, and two of those losses came in games Kawhi Leonard did not play due to load management.

George averaged 28 points and 8.2 rebounds a game last season, was a disruptive force on defense and finished third in MVP voting. The Clippers have looked as good as anyone when Leonard played, and now they are about to add another elite, hard-working two-way wing. That’s why they were the preseason title favorites, and they are just about to get everyone on the court at the same time.