Paul George has been cleared to return to game action and has been traveling the Indiana Pacers for weeks.

George has been impressive in practice as he works his way back from a broken leg.

"Seeing the things he does in practice, it's awesome," Roy Hibbert said. "He's coming. But I don't know what's going on with, I'm not a part of it. The training staff hasn't told us what they're planning on doing, and the front office doesn't. So they collectively talk. But the things he does in practice looks like the old PG, so whenever he comes back he'll be good ... People are going to be surprised. He's going to have a big play his first couple of possessions back."

Larry Bird expects Paul George to play this season and he believes it would be good for his mental state as he comes back from a horrific injury.

"He’s getting a lot better," Bird said. "I think he has to go through a series of tests this week, just like we’ve always been doing to see where he’s at. I think he’s cleared by the doctors to play, but obviously he’s not in shape. Just because he’s cleared to play, doesn’t mean he’s in shape to play. And I don’t want Paul to go out there until he feels comfortable with his conditioning and the way he’s practicing. I’d like to see him do a little bit better. 

"It was a rough go at the beginning, which we knew it was going to be. He (isn’t) going to be Paul George, 100 percent. We know that. But I think mentally he wants to get out there, play a few games and get ready to see what he needs to do this summer to get back to 100 percent -- and he will. 

"I expect him to play this year. I hope he does for his own good -- not for us to get in the playoffs or anything like that, but just for his own mental state. I think anytime you go through an injury like that, you have to get back out there and prove yourself. But he’s not going to be 100 percent." 

Paul George is nearing his return, but he won't play on Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Indiana Pacers have lost four straight games.

"We'll tell you when he's going to play," said Frank Vogel, who was unaware of the report that had circulated Friday evening while his team prepared to play the Cavs.

When asked for their reaction that George could soon make his comeback, each player expressed surprise.

"Is there? Is there?!" Roy Hibbert repeated when told about the report. "Aww, man. They don't tell me anything."

George suffered a severe broken leg Aug. 1 in a scrimmage for USA Basketball in Las Vegas. He returned to practice Feb. 26 and was targeting a mid-March return but seemed to back off that timetable last week.

Paul George is expected to return to the Indiana Pacers' lineup within the next week and as early as Saturday.

George has been out since the summer when he broke his leg in a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas.

The Pacers have managed to remain in the playoff picture without George, who was an All-NBA Third Team selection in each of the past two seasons.

Paul George wants to return to the Indiana Pacers this season from his injury but is unsure due to the team's recent strong play.

"I'm on the fence," George said. "Part of me is, they're playing so well, they've come together, to shake up the chemistry and add another body, another player in there... I don't want to be that guy that destroys what these guys have going."

George said soreness after earlier practices is "minimal." He continues to take his return day by day.

"It's different if this was the beginning of the year and we were still trying to find our way," George said. "But these guys are playing at the top of their game right now and the last thing I want to do is slow them down."

Rodney Stuckey has averaged 13.1 points this season for the Indiana Pacers under a minimum salary.

Stuckey has strong desire to re-sign with the Pacers as a free agent in the summer. He has averaged 19.4 points per game over the last 11 contests.

I want to be here,” Stuckey said. “When that time comes, we'll definitely figure something out."

“I love it here, man. I'm staying in the city, close to everything. I love it here. My family loves it here. I love the people in this organization. Definitely, I want to come back. That's a no-brainer. Having a guy like Paul George here, of course I want to come play with an All-Star. Who doesn't? Definitely want to be back here.”