Paul George‘s time with the Philadelphia 76ers has not gone as planned.
Expectations were high when Georgel, 35, signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers in July 2024. The nine-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, and four-time All-Defensive star was limited to 41 games and ruled out for the season by March 2025. George averaged 16.2 points last season — his lowest such mark since averaging 8.8 points in six games for the Indiana Pacers in 2014-15.
So far, this season has been worse for George.
George underwent knee surgery last July, so his 2025-26 campaign didn’t begin until Nov. 17. He was averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 27 games when he received a 25-game suspension without pay on Jan. 31 for violating the NBA and NBPA’s Anti-Drug Program policy.
As of Tuesday, George’s suspension is over, and he addressed the ordeal with reporters at the 76ers’ practice facility.
George began by apologizing to the city of Philadelphia, his family, his teammates, the 76ers organization, and “everybody who was affected” by his suspension. He acknowledged he was brought to Philly to “be a leader,” so “to let people down hurt more than anything.”
George said that things are now “positive,” but that wasn’t always the case.
“Obviously, it was devastation,” George said, according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones. “Especially, where we were at, I believe we were at fifth seed. I think we had just won a game against Sacramento, or something like that. We’ve been playing good basketball. So, there was some devastation, just of momentum that was being built. I think I was starting to trend in a better place. My body was getting better and better over that time, but again, the front office gave me full support.”
At the time of his suspension, George provided a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania, revealing mental health as the root of his suspension.
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George’s statement read, in part. “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates, and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process.”
On Tuesday, George acknowledged taking a banned substance in the aftermath of his knee injury last July.
“The most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be or where it once was,” George said. “That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited. But for me, I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do and what I’ve been able to on the court for years.”
George will return to the 76ers’ lineup when Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers hold the seventh seed at 39-33. They’re on game behind the sixth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, so the next 10 games will determine whether the 76ers can avoid the Play-In Tournament.