Source: Paul George accepts invite to play for USA Basketball in Rio

— -- Indiana Pacers guard/forward  Paul George has accepted an invitation to play for USA Basketball's 2016 Rio Olympics team, a source told The Undefeated.

George suffered a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg while playing in the USA Basketball Showcase scrimmage in August 2014. The injury caused the three-time NBA All-Star to miss most of the 2014-15 season. USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo promised George an Olympic roster spot after he suffered the injury, and the latter recently accepted.

It has always been a dream of George's to compete for a gold medal for his country, a source said.

George, 26, will be playing for the USA Basketball national team for the first time.

George averaged a career-high 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and a career-high-tying 4.1 assists in 34.8 minutes per game this past season. The 2016 All-Star was named an NBA third-team selection and NBA second-team defensive selection. He scored 41 points in the All-Star Game, finishing one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star Game record.

George had said during this season that he was unsure whether his body would allow him to vie for a spot on Team USA after the grind of the NBA campaign, but said in an interview with ESPN's Cari Champion earlier this month that he was going to give it "a shot."

"I was just hesitant on the simple fact that, the past couple years has obviously been tough for me -- just felt like I didn't have enough time to myself, and time to recover, and you know, give my body a rest," George said. "I didn't want to jump out of a season, jump right into the Olympics. But I think I kind of said that too prematurely.

"I didn't give myself enough time to really think it through. I think since I've been off, my body's telling me yes, my mind is telling me yes, people around me are telling me yes. So I feel good about it. And, you know ... I want to give it a shot."

George was one of 31 finalists named for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team in January. Colangelo said in March that he planned to unveil the 12-man Olympic roster in late June.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff will hold a four-day training camp in Las Vegas from July 18 through 21, and then the team will play five exhibition games, starting July 22 against Argentina and ending Aug. 1 against Nigeria. The Olympic basketball tournament will take place Aug. 6-21 in Rio de Janeiro.