The Philadelphia 76ers may lose another star to treatment and/or surgery before the end of a disappointing season.
Paul George is speaking with doctors regarding treatment options for groin and knee injuries that have hobbled him throughout this season. Surgery is among the options being considered and a decision will be made by George and the Sixers next week, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
If George is shut down for the 76ers’ remaining 17 games, he’ll join Joel Embiid in a premature end to the season. Embiid’s 2024-25 campaign ended two weeks ago to focus on treating and rehabilitating a left knee that troubled him going back to last season.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George is consulting with doctors this week on treatment options for his groin and knee injuries, including a possible procedure, sources tell ESPN. A decision is expected early next week. pic.twitter.com/tHyDDzDyLn
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 13, 2025
Philadelphia also lost rookie standout Jared McCain to a torn meniscus in early January, ending what appeared to be a Rookie of the Year campaign for the first-round pick.
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George, 34, has been limited to 41 games for Philadelphia after signing a four-year, $212 million max free-agent contract last July. Joining Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers with George were expected to challenge the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics for an Eastern Conference title and league championship.
However, George has averaged 16.2 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 36% on 3-pointers, far below the 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 38% 3-point shooting he’s totaled during his 15-year NBA career. In addition to hyperextending his left knee twice and soreness in his left groin, he’s also had a tendon issue in his left pinky finger that required painkilling injections to alleviate.
Focusing on his health and improving the 76ers’ performance compelled George to take a break from his podcast, “Podcast P with Paul George,” he said two weeks ago.
Whether or not the Sixers choose to move on from George remains to be seen. Yet the team reportedly disregarded trade interest from the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors before the NBA trade deadline, apparently indicating that Philadelphia wants to pursue the championship aspirations created when George was signed.
The 76ers go into Friday’s matchup versus the Indiana Pacers with a 22-38 record, 13th out of 15 Eastern Conference teams and five games out of the No. 10 spot that would put them in the NBA play-in tournament.
