NBA suspends 76ers’ Paul George for 25 video games for violating anti-drug coverage

The NBA has suspended Philadelphia 76ers ahead Paul George for 25 video games “for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program,” the league introduced Saturday.

George’s suspension begins with Saturday’s recreation towards the New Orleans Pelicans. He offered an announcement to The Athletic after the suspension was reported that referenced his choice to hunt therapy for psychological well being.

“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. 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,” the assertion learn. “I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.”

George’s suspension comes at an unlucky time for himself and the 76ers. After Saturday night time’s dwelling recreation towards the Pelicans, the 76ers start a highway journey that may have been a homecoming journey for George, a Southern California native, with the primary recreation on the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. George performed for the Clippers from 2019 to 2024.

While George hasn’t been the star performer that the 76ers anticipated when he signed with them as a free agent in 2024, the 76ers have been a greater workforce with George on the ground this season. George ranks second on the 76ers in 3s made per recreation (2.4) whereas hitting 38.2 % of his makes an attempt, the second-best on the workforce among the many 11 gamers who’ve tried greater than 40 3s. George can also be an necessary playmaker (3.7 assists per recreation) regardless of his decreased shot creation skill, whereas rating third on the workforce with 1.5 steals per recreation.

George received’t have the ability to return to motion till March 25, when the 76ers have solely 10 video games left. It implies that George will play a most of solely 37 video games this season, after showing in solely 41 video games in his first season with the 76ers final season. George missed the primary 12 video games of this season whereas recovering from offseason left knee surgical procedure. He just lately had his second 30-point recreation of the season in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks this week, making a season-high 9 3s as a part of a 32-point efficiency.

The nine-time All-Star is averaging 16.0 factors and three.7 assists whereas capturing 42.4 % from the sector.

The 76ers are going to want to exchange George’s minutes with extra time for Kelly Oubre Jr., who has missed 22 video games already this season attributable to a knee harm. George performs 30.5 minutes per recreation, whereas Oubre already averages 32.0 minutes, although George and Oubre have solely performed 9 video games collectively all season. Oubre is a downgrade from George as a shooter, playmaker, and rebounder, although Oubre has been a succesful finisher and defender this season.

The timing of the suspension additionally comes at an ungainly time for the 76ers. Center Joel Embiid stated this week that the workforce has been “ducking the tax” and “hopefully we think about improving because I think we have a chance.” Now, Philadelphia should make its postseason push with out an necessary cog.

One small silver lining for Philadelphia: It seems the 76ers not have to commerce Andre Drummond to get below the luxurious tax. The forfeited wage of suspended gamers solely counts half towards the luxurious tax, which implies the $11.74 million that George will lose on account of the suspension will reduce the Sixers’ luxurious tax invoice by $5.87 million.

As a outcome, Philadelphia is now simply $1.26 million over the tax line, an quantity they’ll simply cowl by buying and selling little-used vet Eric Gordon to a different workforce and sending money or a late second-round decide for his or her troubles.

Philadelphia may place George on the ‘suspended list” after he’s missed 5 video games and signal a sixteenth participant to their roster for the rest of his suspension.

This story will probably be up to date.