"March 1 isn't when I wanted to play my first game, but when I wanted to be full-out practicing, doing up and down full court without any restrictions or limitations," was what Paul George told Yahoo Sports a few weeks ago.

He appears to be slightly ahead of schedule as he returned to practice with the Indiana Pacers last Thursday.

Close to seven months after shattering his leg, the all-star forward finished his first full practice. But while George has progressed faster than anyone expected, there is still no established timetable for his comeback, as Michael Marot of the Associated Press reports.

"Paul is not going to be out there unless he's Paul George," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "He's eager to get back on the court, but not before he's ready. Once he's mentally cleared to play in a game, he's still got to be ready to actually play in a game."

George was expected to miss the entire 2014-2015 season after the gruesome injury, but nobody in the Pacers camp has ruled out his return this season, with Pacers president Larry Bird even encouraging his star to come back faster than anyone expected.

The Pacers have won seven of their last nine games, and now find themselves just a half game behind the Brooklyn Nets who are precariously holding on the final playoff spot in the East.

"Things are looking good" George said. "After it happened, I didn't think I'd be at this point right now, but I'm happy to be at this point," he said despite admitting still working on trying to be comfortable with his lower right leg.

The 2010 first round pick averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game last season, when he was an All-Star and was a third-team All-NBA selection.