Star forward takes responsibility for improper medication during mental health treatment as Sixers enter critical playoff stretch without key piece
Paul George has been suspended without pay for 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. The suspension, announced Saturday by the league, will cost the Philadelphia 76ers forward roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary approximately $469,691.72 for each game missed. More significantly, it removes one of the Sixers’ three best players from the lineup during a critical stretch of the season as they push toward the playoffs.
George took responsibility for the violation in a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “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.”
His honesty about seeking mental health treatment is significant. George has been vocal about mental health awareness throughout his career, and his acknowledgment that he made a mistake while seeking help is the kind of accountability that often gets lost in suspension announcements. He’s not making excuses. He’s not blaming circumstances. He’s directly stating that he made a poor decision while trying to address a personal issue, and he’s accepting the consequences.
“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,” George added.
The suspension begins with Saturday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. George will be eligible to return on March 25 at home against the Chicago Bulls, with 10 regular-season games remaining for the Sixers. That timing is crucial it removes him from the lineup during the final stretch of the season when teams are making their final playoff positioning decisions.
When a Star’s Absence Creates Uncertainty
George is averaging 16 points per game while shooting 38.2% from three-point range in 27 games this season. Those numbers don’t seem particularly elite, but his impact goes beyond scoring. The combination of George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey the trio the 76ers assembled 18 months ago to finally break through in the Eastern Conference has been on the court together for 365 minutes across 17 games this season, outscoring opponents by over 7 points per 100 possessions.
That’s elite production. When those three are together, the Sixers are a different team. When George is on the court generally, Philadelphia is 16-11. When he’s not, they’re 10-10. That’s a significant differential. The Sixers are currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 26-21, and George’s production particularly his three-point shooting and secondary scoring creation has been essential to their resurgence after last season’s injury-filled disaster.
Now, for 25 games, they have to figure out how to win without him. They have to find ways to keep pace in the playoff race. They have to maintain the momentum they’ve built with their trio intact while one-third of that trio is sidelined.
The Broader Impact on Philadelphia’s Season
The suspension impacts more than just the roster. There’s a financial element that actually works in the Sixers’ favor. The team will save more than $5 million in luxury tax payments as part of George’s suspension, which leaves Philadelphia a little over $1 million over the NBA’s luxury tax line and makes it easier for the Sixers to dip out of the tax this week without harming the roster.
That’s the kind of silver lining that doesn’t make up for losing a star player, but it provides some financial flexibility. After Thursday’s win over Sacramento, Embiid told reporters that he hoped the team could keep its roster intact. “Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax the last couple of years, so hopefully we keep the same team,” Embiid said. “I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.”
Now, with the luxury tax situation slightly eased by George’s suspension, the Sixers have a better chance of maintaining their roster during the trade deadline and stretch run. That’s a small consolation for losing George for 25 games, but it’s something.
The real question is whether the Sixers can weather George’s absence and still position themselves for a deep playoff run. They have the talent with Embiid and Maxey to compete. But George’s presence his shooting, his secondary creation, his overall versatility is something they’re going to miss during these crucial final weeks of the regular season.
When George returns on March 25, the Sixers will have 10 games to figure out how to mesh back together before the playoffs begin. That’s not a lot of time to rebuild chemistry with your third-best player after a 25-game absence. The timing couldn’t be worse, and the Sixers know it.
