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Philadelphia 76ers
Sep 7, 2025 10:42 AM EDT
The Philadelphia 76ers have been a volatile team over the past few seasons, but that was evident during the 2024-25 season. It was supposed to be a strong year for the team, but both Paul George and Joel Embiid missed significant time due to major injuries.
Despite some of the injuries, George continued to do his Podcast P show, but eventually took a hiatus in February 2025. This irked some people because it appeared that he was not taking his recovery or his performances for the 76ers seriously.
Philadelphia 76ers wing Paul George playing for the team against the Golden State Warriors.
Mar 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) catches a ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images — Source: Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
For the 76ers, the expectations were high because they had the potential to be world-beaters. They had a big three of Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey, who was fresh off a Most Improved Player campaign.
Apart from the three All-Star-level players, they had a promising Jared McCain. Unfortunately, he also suffered an injury. However, the biggest issue for the team was George, who heavily underperformed all the expectations for him. This led to criticism from all angles, including from three-time NBA champion and current broadcaster, Stacey King.
King Is Not A Fan Of George Podcasting During The Season
The podcast has been a talking point about George for a long time. It has been around for a while, but it was never the most popular decision among the NBA purists.
Most of those dedicated basketball fans want the players to stay more low-key, but it’s just over an hour or two off their day, which is fine. However, the purists might have an issue with the optics, considering podcasts might seem unrelated to basketball and preparing for games.
That is why King is not a big fan of what George was doing with his podcast. The three-time champion would want the 76ers to veer away from the nine-time NBA All-Star.
“Move on from Paul George. I’m keeping Tyrese Maxey. He’s a young player. But Paul George and Joel Embiid are always hurt. They’re never playing together,” King said on the Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast.
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“I don’t know how many games they play together, but it’s got to be fewer than 20 together. And they seem to be, Paul George is more into podcasting than actually playing.”
George Must Bounce Back In The 2025-26 Season
With all these criticisms he has received, it’s time for George to step up and prove that he’s good enough to be a star again. Yes, he is 35, but he still has a lot to give. He has a natural knack for scoring, a great defensive reputation, and underrated playmaking.
It must also be mentioned that George is playing on a massive contract. He needs to live up to that deal, so the 76ers will get return on their investment in him.
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This will be a challenging season for the 76ers, as everyone is still reeling from the tough campaign in the 2024-25 season. Embiid is still not 100% for the regular season, which could lead to another disappointing year. However, George must do something about it and prove he’s still got it.
About the Author
Cholo Martin Magsino
NBA & WNBA Writer, Athlon Sports
Cholo is a lifelong basketball fan who aims to highlight sport through in-depth storytelling around the NBA and WNBA. He has written hundreds of stories since joining Athlon Sports in 2024.