George faces long rehab process

Doctors say Paul George’s biggest battle is yet to come, and it may take a year or more before he returns to the Pacers lineup.

Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird later issued a statement saying hopes George will return to Indianapolis next week before the long rehab process begins.

“If the muscle is not involved and the bone and muscle are fully healed, then I think he will get back (to his previous form).” Gladstone, who is not treating George, said it usually takes athletes nine to 12 months to completely recover from this type of injury.

Although Kersey is not George’s physician, either, he said it will likely take six to 12 weeks for the bone to fully heal and another six to 10 weeks for George to start walking normally.

If all goes well, Kersey said George could be back in six to 12 months, though he warned it may take George as long as 18 months to start playing like his old self.

Plus, he’s a relentless worker, which is how George broke out of the shadows of more highly touted high school recruits and NBA prospects to impress Bird enough to draft him No.