Sixers forward Paul George
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Sixers forward Paul George
Paul George was the Philadelphia 76ers’ marquee addition last summer. The Sixers viewed him as the missing piece in their roster construction, expecting him to transform the franchise into a genuine championship contender.
Yet, after a disappointing season, both from George and the Sixers as a whole, George is heading into a new NBA season with a lot to prove. Unfortunately, for George, the Sixers fanbase doesn’t appear to be on his side, which will undoubtedly make life a little tougher for him.
What’s worse is that, judging by his production last season, he’s very much in the decline phase of his career. And, it would appear the creators of NBA 2K26 would agree with that assessment, as George’s latest overall rating on the game matches his recent production.
2K has given George an 81 overall, putting him in the same conversation as sophomore big man Alex Sarr and New York Knicks forward Josh Hart. A far cry from the top-10 or top-20 player he was viewed as for the past 10 or so years.
The drop in 2K rating is a sign of how George’s stock around the NBA has fallen since his move to the Sixers. He must prove that he’s still among the elite forwards in the NBA in the upcoming campaign. Otherwise, the Sixers will struggle to achieve their goals.
Sixers Also Need Joel Embiid Back on The Court
Outside of needing George to be back to his best, the Sixers will also need Joel Embiid on the court and healthy. The former MVP has struggled with injuries over the last two years. Embiid underwent surgery on his meniscus in April.
Head coach Nick Nurse provided an update on the former MVP’s recovery during an August 13 appearance on TalkSport Radio during his trip to Manchester, England, as part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program.
“All the news is positive,” Nurse told Brian T. Smith of talkSPORT. “I know he’s working very, very hard, and I think things look good. Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there. But our main thing is that he’s healthy to play and play to his best capabilities, because he’s awesome, no doubt about that.”
Philadelphia has designed its roster around Embiid’s skill set. Without him on the floor playing at an elite level, the Sixers can’t expect to contend for a championship.
Doubts Raised Over Embiid’s Playing Ability
An anonymous member of an NBA team’s medical staff recently shared their concerns over Embiid. The medical staffer explained how they don’t envision Embiid getting back to being an MVP candidate. Their comments came during a recent conversation with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“When you have a second surgery to attempt and fix the initial problem, and then you continue to deal with delays and more complications, that’s never a good sign,” The medical team member said. “Few players have been able to come back from multiple surgeries and injuries to the same part of their body, which is what Joel is trying to achieve.”
The medical team member continued.
“For him specifically, his injury history and knee issues go back to when he first entered the league. To even play at the level he has to this point is remarkable. Of course, everyone wants to see him back and 100 percent healthy, as the league is better with all of its stars on the court.”
If the Sixers fall short again this season, Daryl Morey may need to explore the idea of entering a rebuilding phase.