Paul George has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, the league announced in a statement.
The Sixers’ veteran forward released a statement to ESPN:
The league and George did not indicate the specific drug that was used.
The nine-time All-Star has appeared in 27 games this season, averaging 16.0 points per game, while recovering from an offseason procedure on his left knee. He’d just started to play more regularly, appearing in 21 of the Sixers’ last 26 games. George played in just 41 games last season while dealing with injuries to his knee, hip, groin and hand.
The 35-year-old is in the second season of his four-year, $212 million max contract. There are luxury tax implications, for those curious about such things.
It’s fair to wonder where this leaves the Sixers with the NBA’s trade deadline looming next Thursday. Without George for 25 games, Kelly Oubre Jr. is the only wing in the rotation. Second-year forward Justin Edwards has had an inconsistent sophomore season, but will likely see more action. The team also has MarJon Beauchamp signed to a two-way deal.
Will the Sixers consider entering the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes? Will they make other moves to help Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as they look to secure a guaranteed playoff spot in the East? Or will they simply stand pat and hope George can be healthy for any type of playoff run?
Things around the Sixers were finally starting to feel normal with George and Embiid playing fairly regularly and the team as a whole being healthy. It only make sense that something like this would happen to the strangest franchise in the NBA.