As the 2025-26 season approaches, the Eastern Conference landscape appears unusually vulnerable. With several marquee franchises set to be without their primary superstars (Boston with Tatum and Indiana without Haliburton), speculation has mounted that an underdog could seize the moment.
Among the top candidates are the Philadelphia 76ers, whose blend of youth and veteran leadership does signal promise. Yet, former NBA champ Jeff Teague has urged caution, emphasizing how Paul George is far from his prime to help the Sixers make any meaningful surge.
Teague has no optimistic hopes for George
PG13’s five-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers was no less than a cautionary tale. While expected to be the “Robin” to help the franchise attain its first NBA title, he featured in more than 70 games in a season merely once. Despite the doubts that the entire league had about George’s ability to stay fit, Philly took a huge risk by handing him a four-year, $200 million contract in the 2024 offseason.
The outcome was underwhelming as the nine-time All-Star appeared in only 41 games and averaged 16.2 points – his lowest scoring average in a decade, putting all the pressure to lead the team on young Tyrese Maxey.
Now, while there is optimism that a healthy Jared McCain alongside Maxey in the backcourt and a promising, versatile rookie in VJ Edgecombe can help the Sixers make strides in the East, Teague unapologetically revealed a harsh truth on how history is bound to repeat itself in Philly even in the 2025-26 season, as George & Co. will find ways to place themselves on the injury list within the first week of the regular season.
“Paul George is cooked, PG is cooked, bro,” Teague said on his “Club 520” show. “He’s one of the coldest players I have ever seen play basketball… He was a third option last year, bro… There’s a great chance he’s going to be hurt this year. Which is for real, cause how often is this n—a not hurt? They are going to be at full strength for the first game of the season, in game two, they are going to be out.”
This is a make-or-break season for PG
The pressure to win in the East for the 76ers has increased ever since rivals like the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, among others, have continued to make strides in the postseason despite not having the most star-studded rosters.
Moreover, with Maxey performing at an All-NBA level and role players like Kyle Lowry and Kelly Oubre Jr. setting an example of resilience by constantly being out on the floor, the onus now falls on George to validate his contract and prove that he remains capable of impacting a playoff race. Because if that was not to be the case in the upcoming months, this could be the beginning of his end in the league, especially when the 76ers’ fans are frustrated by their No. 1 player, Joel Embiid’s recurrent injury woes.
So, while there is an opportunity for them to grab the spotlight, if things go haywire for the Sixers, this might very well be George’s last stint in a big-market franchise.