George 'can't wait' to see Stephenson in Pacers uniform

Paul George is looking forward to seeing a familiar face.

After calling out his teammates earlier this week, the All-Star small forward appears to be in a positive mood, saying he's eager to see Lance Stephenson in a Pacers uniform once again after his reported agreement to return to Indiana on Wednesday.

"We had special memories," George told Nate Taylor of IndyStar.com. "We've definitely got a bond on that court. Hopefully we pick up where we left off. He’s excited. He's always considered Indiana home, so he's very excited to play with me and us again. This is where he made his name and made his mark. He's got that in the back of his mind. He definitely thinks he can help this team."

George and Stephenson were teammates from 2010-14, playing key roles in Indiana's back-to-back Eastern Conference finals runs.

While Stephenson still needs to undergo a physical before signing a reported three-year, $12-million deal, the Pacers are "optimistic" he'll be ready for Sunday's showdown against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a source told Taylor.

The 26-year-old has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 6.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.3 rebounds on 47.4 percent shooting with the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves.