FRESNO -  Paul George, a six-time NBA All-Star and 2016 Olympic gold medalist, will have his #24 jersey retired during the Fresno State men's basketball team's Nov. 10 regular-season home opener, Fresno State Director of Athletics Terry Tumey announced on Wednesday.

"We are proud to honor Paul George for his exemplary contributions to the game of basketball, both while competing as a student-athlete at Fresno State and during his illustrious ongoing career in the NBA," Tumey said. "One of our goals as a Department is to connect our rich tradition with our promising future by honoring the legends of our past appropriately. There will be more recognition to come, as we have so many great former Bulldogs out there, but this particular opportunity is all about celebrating Paul George and his wonderful achievements."

George, a native of Palmdale, Calif., has become a bonafide NBA superstar after shining for two seasons at Fresno State before being drafted No. 10 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. George spent his first seven seasons (2010-17) in the NBA with the Pacers, and then two seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) before becoming a member of the Los Angeles Clippers this summer.

"I am humbled by the honor of having my jersey retired by Fresno State," George said. "I loved my time there and am so appreciative of the staff and the fans and everyone in the Bulldog family that has been part of my basketball journey."

George will be celebrated during a halftime jersey retirement ceremony and Nov. 10 will be Paul George Day at the Save Mart Center. George is the second former Fresno State men's basketball student-athlete to be honored with a jersey retirement, joining former Bulldog coach and student-athlete Jerry Tarkanian, who had his #2 jersey retired on March 1, 2014.

A special 4 for $24 offer, which includes four Nov. 10 game tickets, is on sale now online only through the Bulldog Ticket Office.

George: One of the Best Players in the NBA
George has appeared in 604 career NBA games, averaging 19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists with the Thunder and Indiana Pacers. George is a five-time All-NBA selection, who made his first All-NBA First Team in 2018-19, and has been named to the All-Defensive Team four times. He was also a finalist this past season for the NBA's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards. George is a six-time NBA All-Star and 2016 Olympic Gold medalist.

George averaged career highs with 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals over 77 games during the 2018-19 season for the Thunder. He averaged 4.0 deflections per game and recovered 2.7 loose balls per game, tied for third and fourth in the league, respectively. George holds a 101.59 career defensive rating, which ranks fourth among all active players.

George is one of 30 former Bulldogs to play in the NBA and one of two currently on NBA rosters (Tyler Johnson - Phoenix Suns). His move to the Clippers teamed up George with two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard, who Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson successfully recruited to San Diego State in 2009 when Hutson was an assistant coach at SDSU.

Throughout his Fresno State career, George showcased his elite athleticism and passion for the game of basketball. At Fresno State, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 63 games.

As a sophomore at Fresno State, George delivered the program's most efficient season at the free throw line (120-132, 90.9 percent), ranked as one of the top 20 sophomore NCAA scorers, and averaged 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.4 percent (154-363) from the field and 35.3 percent (122-308) on 3-point attempts. He scored a career-high 30 points in his first game back from an ankle injury in early February 2010.

During that sophomore season, George and Leonard faced off in a non-conference match-up at the Save Mart Center. George posted 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals for the Bulldogs, while Leonard, who was a freshman, had five points, seven rebounds, three steals and a block for the Aztecs. SDSU, who later that season won the 2010 MW Tournament championship for the first of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances, edged Fresno State 62-58 in that West Coast Classic meeting on Nov. 23, 2009.

Meanwhile, as a freshman, George quickly made national waves with the No. 1 play of the day on ESPN's Sportscenter after dunking on a pair of Saint Mary's defenders in November 2008 and finished the season as one of the top 15 freshmen scorers in the country. Sports Illustrated tabbed George as the Most Entertaining Player in the West in Fall 2009.