Paul George ready to embark on ‘real summer’ of basketball after strong finish for Sixers

Less than an hour after the 76ers were swept by the New York Knicks in the playoffs’ second round, Paul George was already eager to spend his offseason working on … basketball?

The veteran forward and former perennial All-Star believes that the “rehabbing phase” following knee troubles that plagued the bulk of his first two seasons in Philly are behind him. A 25-game suspension from late January until late March for violating the NBA’s drug policy gave him additional time to heal and to start resharpening his game for a strong finish on both ends of the court.

Next, George hopes to carry that into a “real summer of improving.”

“It’s been stagnant the last couple years,” George said during his end-of-season news conference, “because of a surgery here or a surgery there. … So this summer should be a better summer, in terms of working on my game.”

» READ MORE: Ten potential candidates to replace Daryl Morey as the Sixers’ lead executive

It’s worth noting that George’s most recent surgery came after he injured his left knee during a July workout. Such is the risk with George, who turned 36 this month and has played fewer than 60 games in six of his past seven seasons because of a variety of health issues. He played in 37 regular-season games this season and averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals.

George also acknowledged that his primary offseason “challenge” is to figure out if this version of his body is still capable of exploding to the basket. He previously relished not needing to “heavily rely on my jump shot,” instead using it as like a boxer’s jab to set up a drive to the rim.

“I just feel like that wasn’t there this year,” George said.

Yet down the stretch, George did provide a glimpse of what he still can be as a complement to the promising Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt (and, when available, the commanding presence of former MVP center Joel Embiid).

George averaged 21 points on a blistering 41.5% shooting from three-point range in the Sixers’ final 10 regular-season games, flashing the smooth form that helped make him one of the decade’s most versatile scorers and the Sixers’ marquee free-agency signing in 2024.

He also connected on 49.3% of his attempts from deep in the playoffs, including 5-of-9 in a 23-point effort in the Sixers’ crucial Game 6 victory over the Boston Celtics. And coach Nick Nurse constantly lauded George’s defense in the Boston series against shot-making wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown along with a barrage of three-point gunners.

Those results, George said, were the product of finally being physically equipped to spend extra time on the court following practices and shootarounds, rather than saving every ounce of basketball energy for games. George often was spotted working with young teammates such as Edgecombe on one-on-one moves (and defending them).

“I’m finally enjoying it, now that I’m able to do things that I was once able to do again,” George said after Game 6 of that Boston series. “It’s fun for me again. So, to be honest, it’s kind of, just, I’m seeing who I am again, how can I be relevant again, or how can I chase some of the things that I was doing in my past?

“It’s been fun to be on the floor and just experience [it] and kind of just learn the things about myself.”

But like his team, George tapered off in the Sixers’ second-round humiliation against the Knicks. The most glaring example was in Game 3, when he scored 15 first-quarter points and then went scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting for the rest of the game.

Still, Embiid said during his end-of-season news conference that George’s recent play was evidence that the veteran has “still got it.” George added that he felt his chemistry grow with Embiid in the pick-and-roll in their still-limited on-court action.

George’s floor spacing gave Embiid some room to operate one-on-one in the post or to distribute to him for a long-range shot when the double-teams arrived.

» READ MORE: Six most important quotes from Bob Myers, Josh Harris as they search for a front-office leader

That collaboration likely will be critical moving forward, given both players’ hefty contracts. George has two years (including a player option) remaining on his max deal. That is viewed as difficult to trade now but could be more movable at the February trade deadline or next offseason, when it becomes an expiring contract.

George’s salary ($54.1 million in 2026-27, $56.6 million in 2027-28) in relation to his availability and production so far as a Sixer has been, at best, disappointing. But he said that he felt supported during his suspension and that returning to the playoffs following a dreadful 2024-25 season was “the positive and the highlight of it all.”

“My experience with the fans has been amazing,” George said. “It’s definitely love here.”

And now, George plans to embark on a summer of basketball.