Paul George talked to the media after his 25-game ban. Here’s what he said about his ‘poor decision.’
George, who is set to return against the Bulls on Wednesday, declined to share what improper medication he took to trigger the suspension.
Paul George will officially return to the 76ers lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls in his first game back after serving a 25-game suspension for taking “improper medication.”
Ahead of his return to the floor, George answered questions about what happened and what comes next. Here are five takeaways:
What caused the suspension?
George did not want to get into specifics on which banned substance he had taken to cause his 25-game suspension. “That’s more on the personal side,” he said.
“At the moment, I didn’t know exactly the repercussions,” George said. “It was just a poorly timed decision.
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“Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you,” George said. “My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and the expectation to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be. Obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself, and that’s what led to the poor decision at the time.”
On game days
During the suspension, George has been allowed to practice and work out with the team. But he has not been able to be in the arena during games, either at home or on the road.
“I’m preparing as if I’m playing, so to speak, but then not to be able to be fully a part of the game and helping guys through the games,” George said. “Seeing the game up close like that was hard, and a lot of it, we’ve been on road trips and having an extended time being in the hotel room, that was tough.”
George’s health
After his 2024-25 season ended early because of knee injuries, George had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his left knee on July 14. He missed the first 12 games this season, then played in 27 games before his Jan. 31 suspension. George has typically not played both games of back-to-back sets.
“This 25 games was just what I needed, I think, for my body to heal and be in a better place,” George said. “I’ve been feeling great. I’ve been feeling awesome on the court, so I’m looking forward to putting it to the test now.”
There are two remaining back-to-backs in the final 10 games of the Sixers’ season, on April 3 and 4 against Minnesota and Detroit at home, and then on April 9 and 10 against Houston and Indiana on the road.
Ramping up to play
George has been conditioning and working out with the team, participating in scout team workouts and helping with the development of the Sixers’ young players. But returning to game action is a different animal.
Coach Nick Nurse has said he doesn’t expect George to need a ramp-up period and he will not be on a minutes restriction when he returns to the lineup.
“Obviously, there’ll be some rust with, you know, missing 25 games, especially in this part of the season where guys are playing playoff basketball, so to speak,” Nurse said. “There’ll be a little rust, but I’m just looking forward to just being full-fledged, thrown out there, being in the mix, and just being aggressive.”
The standings
The Sixers were sixth in the Eastern Conference on Jan. 31 when George’s suspension was announced. In the 25 games since, they have slipped down just one spot to seventh place. They are 1½ games out of fifth place, even with the suspension and the injuries to Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
“We’re in the driver’s seat to close out these last 10 games,” George said. “Obviously, that’s the goal, is to try to get the best seeding possible and get ourselves out of the play-in situation, so that’s what I’m gearing for, is to take these last 10 games and use them as playoff games, have that mindset going into them, that these are must wins to solidify a great seed. We’re still in a good position right now.”