Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has returned to full practice with his teammates for the first time since breaking his leg in two places last summer.
It was revealed last month that the two-time All-Star was planning to be back in action in March, and despite joking that he would be ready to face LeBron James when Indiana meet the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, the 24-year-old has admitted that he is surprised by his progress.
"I've got LeBron tomorrow night," George responded when asked for a return date.
"Things are looking good," he said. "After it happened, I didn't think I'd be at this point right now, but I'm happy to be at this point now."
Indiana head coach Frank Vogel is keen to be cautious with George as he looks to guide his team to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"Paul is not going to be out there unless he's Paul George," Vogel told reporters. "He's eager to get back on the court, but not before he's ready. Once he's mentally cleared to play in a game, he's still got to be ready to [actually] play in a game."
The Pacers are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 23-34 record.
Callum Mulvihill
