When the OKC Thunder traded Paul George to the LA Clippers back in the summer of 2019, he was undeniably one of the game's biggest stars and had just wrapped up a career-best campaign where he notched his sixth All-Star nod and a third-place finish in the MVP race.
Unfortunately, since his departure from the Sooner State, the wing's trajectory and league-wide status have steadily declined.
Now, here mid-way through this year's campaign, George has officially crashed into a new lowpoint in his professional career, as the league announced on Saturday that the 35-year-old has been suspended for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
Former Thunder star Paul George reaches new low with suspension
2025-26 has been quite the year to forget for the former Thunder cornerstone.
After undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in mid-July as a result of an injury sustained during an offseason workout, George was shelved for the first 12 games of the year before making his minutes-restricted debut on November 17.
Since returning to action, his play has been incredibly sporadic, with averages of just 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 42.4 percent shooting from the field to show for his $51.6 million pay grade.
Now, following his self-described mistake of taking an "improper medication" to tend to his mental health, George finds his already grueling 16 season in the association coming to a screeching halt at the mid-way point.
With every passing day, it seems Oklahoma City's decision to move on from George seven years ago only looks better and better.
Obviously, without his ouster, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would have never been shipped to the Thunder, nor would Jalen Williams have been selected with the 2022 draft rights acquired from Los Angeles in the initial exchange.
Since the blockbuster, Oklahoma City has steadily become the It team of the NBA, winning the 2025 NBA Championship and being tabbed as the odds-on favorites to run things back here in 2026.
George, meanwhile, has seen just one trip beyond the first round of the playoffs and seems to be actively wearing out his welcome with a third consecutive team.
Though he'll be eligible to return to action before the end of the regular season and, in turn, is slated to still be part of the Sixers' impending playoff run, considering how he's only managed to play less than half of his games since signing with Philadelphia, it goes without saying that Daryl Morey and company are definitely feeling buyer's remorse.