This likely wasn’t what the Philadelphia 76ers wanted when they signed Paul George. Not only has he struggled with injuries, but his production has fallen off quite a bit, and his lackluster statistics have factored into why Philadelphia is outside the playoff picture.
If that’s not enough, the latest intel from ESPN’s Shams Charania casts an even darker shadow on George and the Sixers.
Latest Intel on Paul George Might Be Sign It’s Time To Bench Him
Charania revealed on “NBA Today” both the injuries that have piled up for George and how the Sixers are treating his current injury.
“The season started for George with a hyperextension and a bone bruise, a really nasty-looking injury at the time. And it’s really been an uphill battle for him since that point,” Charania said.
“He’s had multiple different little nagging injuries that have come up. Most recently, he’s had tendon damage in his left pinky that he’s been fighting. He’s been doing everything he can, though, to be on the court and be available. I’m told it’s to the point where he has gotten injections to play and compete over the last four or five games.”
"[Paul George was] brought over to move the needle. … He's not doing that." 😳 @KendrickPerkins and @ShamsCharania on Paul George's recent struggles and the 20-34 Philadelphia 76ers. pic.twitter.com/iVJ5FMk2KR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2025
That’s not a good look. George is getting treatment that players don’t often get until the playoffs just over halfway through the season, and the 76ers aren’t even in the playoff picture. Worse, they’re running out of time to get into the postseason hunt. At this point, they must consider their best action with George. As bad as this season has gone, they may not want to risk things getting worse if his injuries don’t go away.
That definitely sounds drastic, but do the Sixers continue rolling with this core the way it is after how things have gone? Philly owes a top-six-protected first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder and has been one of the worst teams in the NBA. If the 76ers shelf George for the rest of the season, that could help them keep that pick.
If they decide to let George recuperate for the rest of the season, they could kill two birds with one stone: Have him come in healthy next season, and they won’t have that owed pick hanging over their heads as it has throughout this season.
It’s not great regardless as the Sixers are paying George top dollar, but this season has already been a nightmare, and it might be time for them to decide it’s not worth keeping it going.
