“George’s tweets from earlier were thoughtless and without regard” – When Larry Bird blasted Paul George for making controversial remarks on social media originally appeared on Basketball Network.
In September 2014, the Indiana Pacers were already dealing with enough uncertainty.
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Their leading scorer and superstar, Paul George, was recovering from a serious leg injury he suffered during a Team USA scrimmage a few weeks earlier. The injury was a severe compound fracture of his lower right leg that required surgery and months of rehab.
George was expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming NBA season. The setback was significant for a team that had just finished first in the Eastern Conference and made back-to-back conference finals appearances. Indiana had already lost Lance Stephenson in free agency, and Roy Hibbert’s role in the offense had started to shrink.
Then, just as training camps were approaching, another situation developed. This time off the court.
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A poorly timed controversy
On Sept. 10, George posted a string of comments on Twitter that drew immediate backlash. The tweets were about the Ray Rice situation, which had recently dominated sports headlines.
Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, had been suspended indefinitely by the NFL after video footage emerged of him striking his then-fiancée in an elevator. The footage reignited national conversations about domestic violence in professional sports and how leagues handled discipline.
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George’s tweets came across as insensitive. He appeared to defend Rice, suggesting that people were being too critical of him and implying that Rice had been acting in self-defense. He also seemed to take issue with the NFL’s decision to suspend Rice indefinitely. His words weren’t received well, especially at a time when public attention was focused on how seriously athletes and leagues treated cases of abuse.
The response from the Pacers was swift and direct, most notably from Larry Bird.
“Paul George’s tweets from earlier were thoughtless and without regard to the subject of domestic violence and its seriousness in society,” Bird said. “We have talked to Paul to strongly express our displeasure and made it clear that the NBA and the Pacers’ organization will not condone or tolerate remarks of this nature. Paul understands that he was wrong and why his tweets were so inappropriate and is very apologetic.”
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The team made it clear that they viewed the comments as unacceptable, and they didn’t attempt to soften the tone of the response. Bird had overseen the team through its most successful stretch in over a decade and had worked to build a culture around discipline and accountability. George had become the face of the franchise, but that didn’t exempt him from consequences.
Later, George deleted the tweets and issued a formal apology through the team.
“I want to apologize to all victims of domestic abuse for my insensitive tweets,” George said. “They were obviously without proper understanding of the seriousness of the situation and I sincerely regret my poor choice of words.”
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A tough year on every front
The Pacers were already expecting a difficult season. George’s injury had changed the franchise’s direction, at least temporarily. Indiana went from a team that had pushed the Miami Heat to six games in the conference finals just months earlier to one suddenly relying on veterans and role players to keep them competitive.
George eventually returned to the court near the end of the season, but only for six games. He spent most of the year in rehab and recovery. The Pacers, missing their leading scorer and struggling to replace his production, finished 38-44 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
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The Twitter incident didn’t define George’s year, but it was a low point during an already challenging stretch. He had come off the best two seasons of his career and became one of the league’s most marketable young stars.
The NBA didn’t take any formal action against George, but both the league office and the Pacers made it clear that they expected more from their players, especially when it came to public comments about serious issues.
Looking back, the incident was one of several moments that made the 2014-15 season feel like a turning point for Indiana. The team had gone all in on its core in the years prior, and George’s absence, combined with off-court missteps, forced a reset.
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George would return to form eventually. He remained the centerpiece of the Pacers for a few more seasons before being traded to Oklahoma City in 2017.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.