Just when the Philadelphia 76ers thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. Paul George’s debut season in Philly is officially over.
The nine-time All-Star has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after receiving injections in his left knee and left adductor muscle, per NBA insider Shams Charania.
A Season From Hell For Philadelphia
The 76ers were supposed to be contenders. They were supposed to be fighting for a top seed in the East. Instead, they’re sitting at 12th in the conference, staring down a 23-44 record and an early vacation in April.
After battling through injuries all year, George consulted multiple doctors before the Sixers medical staff ultimately decided to shut him down. NBA insider Shams Charania posted about his status on X:
George spent the past week consulting with doctors on the best treatment options. The 34-year-old suffered two hyperextensions in his knee in October and November, a finger tendon injury in January and dealt with a groin ailment in recent weeks. He played 41 games this season. https://t.co/pHN6T3ysZX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2025
And really, at this point, what choice did they have? George hyperextended his knee not once but twice, dealt with a nagging finger tendon injury, and was grinding through a groin issue. Now, he joins Joel Embiid on the sidelines, leaving Philly fans to watch a once-promising season spiral further into chaos.
Losing Embiid last month was already a gut punch, but George going down is the final nail in the coffin. Head coach Nick Nurse now has to juggle a roster of young, unproven players while watching his team get steamrolled by the competition.
For George, this season was one of the roughest of his career. He averaged just 16.2 points per game—the lowest since his second year in the league back in 2011. The injuries didn’t help, but let’s be real: this wasn’t the version of George that Philadelphia thought they were getting when they handed him that four-year, $212 million max contract. The Sixers took a gamble, and so far, the house is winning.
What’s Next For The 76ers And George?
With their two biggest stars out, the Sixers are essentially in damage-control mode. They’re not making a playoff push. They’re not playing for pride. They’re just surviving. And that’s got to be a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that had championship aspirations just a few months ago.
For George, the focus now shifts to recovery. He’s expected to be out for at least six weeks, which means his offseason will be all about rehab and getting his body right.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—this was supposed to be the start of a new era for George in Philly. Instead, it’s been a nightmare. Now, the question isn’t just when he’ll return, it’s whether he can ever get back to the dominant two-way force he once was.
For now, Sixers fans are left wondering what could’ve been. And if this season is any indication, what could’ve been is a whole lot better than what actually happened.