Paul George is one of the most popular basketball players in the NBA (National Basketball Association), so it is not surprising that he has a line of signature basketball shoes from Nike, which is also one of the popular sportswear brands on the market. To know more about Paul George and his signature line, here is an introduction to the Paul George line of Nike basketball shoes.
Who is Paul George?
Paul George, whose full name is Paul Clifton Anthony George, was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California. Before becoming an NBA player, Paul George played high school basketball at Knight High School before playing for the varsity basketball team of California State University, Fresno (also known simply as Fresno State). He would play for two years at Fresno State before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2010. [1]
In the 2010 NBA Draft, Paul George was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 10th overall pick. It was with the Indiana Pacers where Paul George would receive a lot of accolades, including multiple selections on the All-NBA Third Team, All-Defensive First Team, All-Defensive Second Team, and the NBA All-Star team. In 2013, Paul George won the NBA Most Improved Player Award, as it was the first time in his career that he scored more than 20 points per game.
Before the start of the 2017-18 NBA season, Paul George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He would play for the said team until the 2018-19 season, and by the next season, George would be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the two NBA teams in his home state of California.
The Nike PG Basketball Shoes
The Nike PG is the signature line of basketball shoes made for Paul George and his fans. The partnership between Paul George and Nike started around 2016 to 2017, although Nike already had their eyes set on making a signature shoe for the NBA player during the 2014-15 season, where Paul George forced himself to play six games despite being ruled out for the season. George was out for almost all games of the 2014-15 season after he suffered from a severe leg injury during a US national team scrimmage on August 1, 2014.
Paul George bounced back incredibly during the 2015-16 season, where he played all 81 games and scored 23.1 points per game. It was in that season that George’s popularity skyrocketed, as many people became inspired by his perseverance to become better despite suffering from a serious injury. Nike then signed Paul George to a signature deal, thus making the fourth active signature athlete in the late 2010s alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.
The Nike PG 1
The Nike PG 1 was released on March 3, 2017, although it was already unveiled during a press event in August 2016. This signature shoe features a forefoot strap for added support and lockdown for the front of the foot, and it also has an inner-sleeve sockliner that provides a sock-like feel for the shoe that offers comfort and breathability. For its cushioning, it has a Zoom Air bag on the forefoot for bounciness and responsiveness. Paul George’s logo is present on the tongue and in the middle of the outsole.
The Nike PG 2
The Nike PG 2 was released on February 10, 2018, and features improvements on different aspects of the shoe while still retaining the best features of the previous model. The forefoot strap was removed on the Nike PG 2, and it was replaced with a forefoot band that provides better lockdown support on the front of the foot. The forefoot band can then have a customized fit since it is connected to the shoelace, so tightening the shoelace would also tighten the band for improved lockdown. The Zoom Air bag on the forefoot is still present on the PG 2.
The Nike PG 3
The third shoe in Paul George’s signature line was first released on January 29, 2019. The Nike PG 3 doesn’t have anything particularly different from the previous model in hindsight, but its unique feature is found in the outsole. Instead of having the wavy patterns present on the two previous shoe models, the Nike PG 3 features several circular patterns on its outsole, which are supposedly inspired by the craters of the Moon. Much like the first two signature shoes in the PG line, the Nike PG 3 also has a Zoom Air bag on the forefoot.
The Nike PG 4
The fourth signature shoe of Paul George was released on January 24, 2020. The Nike PG 4 is very different from the previous models in terms of the upper, as it has a zipped mesh overlay that provides support not only for the front of the shoe but also for the heel and the midfoot. The cushioning of the PG 4 is also different, as it features a full-length air unit that provides responsiveness for all areas of your feet’s soles. The outsole of the PG 4 has an improved version of the PG 3’s traction pattern, as it still has circular patterns that are more debossed and embossed on many areas to offer a better grip on the court.
The Nike PG 5
The Nike PG 5 was released on January 21, 2021, and it features the same design philosophy as the PG 3, as it doesn’t have the zipped mesh overlay of the PG 4, but it has the simplified mesh upper of the PG 3. However, the PG 5 still has the full-length air unit on the midsole like the PG 4. Another cool thing about the midsole of the PG 5 is the overlapping sections that are meant to provide support for the forefeet and the heel.
The Nike PG 6
The Nike PG 6 was released on February 9, 2022, and this signature shoe has a React Foam midsole that offers lightweight cushioning and responsiveness for the feet. The upper has layers of mesh for improved rigidity and support, and it also has leather sections for increased durability.
These are the details you need to know about Paul George and his signature line of basketball shoes from Nike. If you are planning to buy a pair of PG shoes, we highly recommend that you get Paul George’s newest shoes, as it has some of the best materials for the upper and the midsole compared to the previous models.
References
[1] The Famous People. Paul George (American Professional Basketball Player Who Plays at the ‘Small Forward’ Position). The Famous People. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/paul-george-41499.php