76ers forward Paul George apologized Tuesday to the city of Philadelphia, his family, his teammates, the organization and, more generally, to “everybody that was affected” by the 25-game suspension he served without pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
A day before his expected return to the court against the Chicago Bulls, George looked back at his mistake and forward toward a pivotal 10-game stretch that will determine his team’s playoff or play-in tournament seeding.
He described the initial emotion of receiving the midseason league ban as “devastation,” however, he’s found a silver lining in an absence that took him out of the lineup for close to two months.
“I’m in a much better place physically. … This 25 games was just what I needed, I think, for my body to kind of heal and be in a better place,” the 35-year-old George told reporters, via PHLY Sports. “I’ve been feeling great. I’ve been feeling awesome on the court. And so I’m looking forward to putting it to the test now.”
After being hit with his suspension on Jan. 31, the nine-time All-Star admitted to taking “improper medication” for a mental health issue in a statement to ESPN.
George was asked Tuesday what that substance was, but he didn’t divulge that information, instead noting that those details were personal. But his remorse was clear, as he peeled back some of the struggles he was dealing with when he turned to the medication.
“Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you, and my body wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” he said. “Obviously I’m going to have an expectation for myself, and that’s what led to the poor decision at the time. But, again, I’ve said it throughout my career dealing with mental health. I’m no superhero. I’m a human, and I made a mistake at that moment.”
“To let people down hurt more than anything going through this process,” noted George, who was complimentary of his teammates for not only supporting him but also rising to the occasion down the stretch of another injury-riddled campaign.
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The Sixers went 13-12 during George’s suspension. Along the way, Philly lost other stars, too. Standout center Joel Embiid suffered a right oblique strain on Feb. 26 and has been sidelined the past 13 games, the last nine of which point guard Tyrese Maxey has also missed with a sprained right pinkie finger that he sustained on March 7.
Now without wing Kelly Oubre Jr. as well, the Sixers have stayed afloat thanks to their supporting cast that’s mostly comprised of young players. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe headlines that group, and he’s erupted for at least 35 points in two of the Sixers’ past three games.
At 39-33, Philadelphia is currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. That said, the Sixers are just 1.5 games out of fifth place.
George is motivated for the postseason push. In addition to feeling well-rested, he believes he has a clearer mind. He explained Tuesday that his physical and mental health often go hand-in-hand.
He pointed out that he’s back to feeling explosive and strong. George missed the start of the 2024-25 season, his first with the Sixers, because of a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee. Not long after he returned, he missed more time with a similar injury. By mid-March last year, the Sixers shut down George due to both a left adductor muscle injury and a left knee injury.
George didn’t make his debut this season until Nov. 17 after he underwent offseason knee surgery, which sidelined him for the first 12 games.
When asked Tuesday about that knee specifically, George said he feels confident in it. The Sixers will need him to be more than a role player when he returns, at least until Maxey and Embiid are on the floor. George knows rust is inevitable, but he’s eager for the opportunity in front of him.
“I feel like I’m back on that level of being able to perform and be the focal guy and be the scorer,” George said. “So that’s my mindset going into tomorrow, is to get back to being aggressive.”
George is grateful for the Sixers picking him up when he was down.
“For me, the only way to pay it back is to just give everything once I get back out there,” he said. “And so that’s just what I’m excited for, is go out there and just give it everything.”
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