Paul George, Paul George drug test, Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 76ers
Getty
Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up ahead of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
There has been a lot of speculation about which banned substance Paul George used, leading to the Philadelphia 76ers star receiving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program.
In a statement over the weekend, George noted that he took “improper medication” while seeking treatment for mental health. Fans then speculated that the 9-time All-Star may have taken Adderall, Xanax, Ketamine or perhaps another antidepressant.
“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 said via a statement, while taking full responsibility for his actions and apologizing to the Sixers organization.
“I am focused on using this time to make sure my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return,” he added.
‘Fishy’ Paul George Drug Test
76ers legend Charles Barkley is not buying the theory that Paul George failed a drug test while seeking treatment for mental health. While addressing George’s suspension, the 1993 NBA MVP explained why there’s a “fishy” element to the story.
“It’s something fishy going on here,” Barker told “Inside the NBA” on ESPN.
“Now, I don’t joke around about mental health. But if you’re taking something for mental health, there’s got to be an outlier to the NBA. Like man, if it doesn’t make sense to me, it doesn’t make sense because I like Paul George. But if the NBA, and DeMar DeRozan, whom we love and Kevin Love, they’ve been the two most outspoken for mental health. But if you’re taking something for mental health, even if it’s on the list, you should get a hall pass.”
Further to Barkley’s point, DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love have spoken extensively about their mental health struggles, and DeRozan was instrumental in the NBPA’s creation of its Mental Health and Wellness department in 2018. As such, George must have likely consumed a drug that even the NBPA deemed unacceptable.
How Much Money Paul George Loses
George’s 25-game suspension will cost him $11.74M of his $51.7M salary this season, but the 76ers stand to benefit financially, as they will receive a luxury tax credit worth $5.8M, according to salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan. As a result, the Sixers, who were previously $7M above the luxury tax line, are now only $1.3M over it.
The suspension comes at a devastating time for a 76ers team that owns a 10-7 record since the start of 2026 and is enjoying a midseason resurgence. During this timeframe, the 76ers have received steady production from Joel Embiid (29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds), Tyrese Maxey (26.4 points, 6.6 assists), George (15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds) and rookie VJ Edgecombe (13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds), besides useful contributions from role players Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes.
Most importantly, the 76ers were finally getting healthy again, with Embiid, Jared McCain and George back in the rotation after early-season injury setbacks. Many felt they were primed to potentially challenge for a top-three seed by the end of the season. The Paul George suspension could throw a wrench in those projections.