In a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the Philadelphia 76ers star detailed what his injury-riddled debut season with Philadelphia was like from his perspective.
Last July, the 76ers made a big splash and signed Paul George to a four-year, $212 million max contract. Adding the nine-time All-Star was the sort of move the Sixers front office imagined would bring the team over the top.
But instead, the addition yielded less than desirable results in George's first year. It was also pretty much bad from the start.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George catches a ball against the Golden State Warriors during a game at the Wells Fargo Center. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George catches a ball against the Golden State Warriors during a game at the Wells Fargo Center. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
"I came in healthy," George said on the podcast. "I didn't have any hiccups. I spent the whole offseason working on my body, getting healthy. Then I get to Philly. Preseason, I get hurt."
The 34-year-old George arrived in Philadelphia with a long history of injuries. He had a compound fracture on his tibia and fibula in 2014-15 and suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow in 2021. George said the hyperextension in his knee was bothering him, and even the brace he was wearing for a long time started to cause a quad tendon injury.
"I didn't have my burst," George said. "I couldn't move. I couldn't pin what it was."
"So I started taking medicine to numb it up," George said. "Then I had an injury I didn't even know about. That's when I found out I had a torn adductor. That whole time, I just couldn't move."
In March, George received injections to both his left adductor muscle and left knee, according to the team, which sidelined him for six weeks. That made him miss the rest of the 2024-25 season.
George played in 41 games and, at the time of his injury, was averaging 16.2 points per game, his lowest since 2014-15 with the Indiana Pacers due to the compound fractures.
"I couldn't give them everything I had, because my body wasn't where it was supposed to be," George said. "And on top of that, I needed Big Fella."
The Sixers missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season, losing George, star big man Joel Embiid, and standout guard Tyrese Maxey to injuries before the end of the campaign.
Because of the very disappointing season, Philadelphia holds the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.