Paul George Suspended 25 Games for Anti-Drug Program Violation, Leaves Sixers Facing Tough Stretch
The Philadelphia 76ers were dealt a significant blow on Saturday as the NBA handed down a 25-game suspension to forward Paul George for violating the league’s Anti-Drug Program. The suspension begins immediately, keeping George out of action starting with Saturday night's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
In a statement following the league’s announcement, George acknowledged the misstep came while seeking treatment for a personal mental health issue. “Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George said.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process. I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.”
It’s a tough turn of events for both George and the Sixers, especially with the timing. The team is about to embark on a road trip that includes a stop in Los Angeles to face the Clippers-George’s former team and a place he called home from 2019 to 2024. That homecoming will now happen from the sidelines.
George hasn’t quite delivered the All-Star-level production the Sixers hoped for when they signed him in 2024, but there’s no denying his impact when he’s on the floor. He’s been a key two-way contributor this season, providing spacing with his 38.2% shooting from deep-second-best on the team among players with a significant volume-and averaging 2.4 made threes per game. He’s also chipped in 3.7 assists per game and remains a disruptive defender, ranking third on the team with 1.5 steals per contest.
The suspension means George won’t be eligible to return until March 25, leaving him with a maximum of just 37 games played this season. That’s only a slight bump from last year, when he appeared in 41 games during his injury-shortened debut season in Philadelphia. George had missed the first 12 games of this year recovering from offseason knee surgery, but he was just starting to find his rhythm-most recently erupting for 32 points and hitting a season-high nine threes in a win over the Bucks.
Through 2026 so far, George is averaging 16.0 points and 3.7 assists on 42.4% shooting. Those numbers may not jump off the page compared to his All-NBA peak, but they’ve been valuable contributions to a Sixers squad trying to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference race.
Now, the Sixers will need to fill the void, and that likely means a heavier workload for Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre has already missed 22 games this season due to a knee injury, but when healthy, he’s been logging 32.0 minutes per game-more than George.
Still, the two have only shared the court for nine games this year, and Oubre doesn’t bring the same playmaking or floor-spacing that George does. He’s a capable defender and finisher, but replicating George’s two-way presence won’t be easy.
The timing of the suspension also adds to the pressure surrounding the Sixers’ front office. Earlier this week, Joel Embiid made headlines with comments about the team “ducking the tax” and called for the organization to get aggressive in improving the roster. Now, with George sidelined, that challenge becomes even more urgent.
There is, however, one financial silver lining for the Sixers. Because only half of a suspended player’s salary counts against the luxury tax, George’s $11.74 million loss will trim Philadelphia’s tax bill by $5.87 million. That drops the team’s luxury tax overage to just $1.26 million-an amount they could easily clear by moving a veteran like Eric Gordon in a minor deal, possibly attaching a second-round pick or cash to get it done.
Additionally, once George has missed five games, the Sixers will be eligible to place him on the suspended list and sign a 16th player for the duration of his absence. That could give them some short-term flexibility as they try to stay afloat in the standings.
But make no mistake-this is a significant setback for a team with postseason aspirations. George may not be the focal point of the offense, but he’s a vital piece of the puzzle. And with just 10 games remaining when he returns, the Sixers will be walking a tightrope the rest of the way.