Paul George: “Open runs is like the purest form of basketball.”
On his Podcast P show, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George talked about his love of playing pickup basketball. PG3 called it the purest form of basketball. Check out the clip, courtesy of @podcastpshow on Instagram:
The eight-time NBA All-Star also talked about who he looked forward to playing with and against in these open runs. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and even, JaVale McGee were mentioned.
Pickup basketball takes you back to the playground. There’s no outside pressure. You’re not playing for that contract, or have the weight of a fanbase on your shoulders. It’s purely for the love of the game. Hooping is at its most intimate with those small four walls.
NBA players use these open runs to work on moves, gauge where they are versus other players, conditioning, and to work their way back after injury.
The rise of social media and camera phones has taken the fans into these pickup games.
