The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that forward Paul George will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season after receiving injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee. This decision comes after George spent the past week consulting with medical professionals to explore the best treatment options for his ongoing groin and knee injuries.
The 34-year-old player has been plagued by a series of injuries throughout the current season, managing to play through issues related to his groin, finger, and knee. Over the past month, George has faced multiple setbacks, and sources reveal that he received painkiller injections for five consecutive games leading up to the NBA All-Star break in February. Unfortunately, the 76ers confirmed that George will need at least six weeks to recover, effectively ending his participation in the regular season.
The 76ers currently find themselves five games out of the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. George, who signed a lucrative four-year, $212 million max contract with the team in July after a successful five-season stint with the LA Clippers, was averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 41 games this season.
George's injury woes began during the preseason when he hyperextended his left knee, causing him to miss the first five games of the regular season. In November, he suffered a similar hyperextension of the same knee, resulting in an additional three-game absence. Later, in January, he faced a left pinkie injury, and most recently, he has been dealing with left groin soreness that kept him out of Philadelphia's last four games.
In light of his health challenges, George made the decision to step away from his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, to concentrate on his recovery and the overall performance of the 76ers. "I haven't been the healthiest, so it's just been putting a ton of work towards getting my body as healthy as possible, and to keep focus of obviously being here and trying to turn things around," George stated regarding his choice to pause his podcast.
The recent ruling also follows the announcement made on February 28 that 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid would be out for the remainder of the season. With George now joining Embiid on the sidelines, the 76ers are facing a challenging end to what was anticipated to be a promising season. Once considered among the title favorites for the 2024-25 season, the team is now shifting its focus towards improving their lottery draft pick.
