George: 'I was a snacker' before changes prior to breakthrough season
Kicking aside some bad habits this past summer is helping Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George to emerge as an MVP candidate this season.
"I'm a gamer," George told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "So that caused for some late nights being up playing. You do get an appetite when you're up later.
"So I was a snacker, and I think I was in that transition of being, 'Oh I can still do it. I can still eat whatever I want and still go out because I've done it three, four years in my early career.'"
George's family and close friends didn't step in for an intervention. Instead, the six-time All-Star realized on his own that he couldn't keep up with teammate Russell Westbrook if he continued down the same path.
"This is not going to work," George said of his previous lifestyle. "I'mma have to slim down. I'mma have to watch what I eat. I'mma have to control my sleep. I'mma need every bit of energy that I can get."
George is averaging career highs in points (28.2), boards (8.1), assists (4.2), and steals (2.2) across 65 appearances this season. He's also receiving consideration for Defensive Player of the Year while leading the NBA in deflections (246) and loose balls recovered (137) entering play on Saturday.