Sixers' injury issues already impacting their 2025-26 season

The Philadelphia 76ers endured a humbling 2024-25 season, dropping from contenders in the Eastern Conference to a lottery team with a 24-58 record. Injuries derailed head coach Nick Nurse's roster at multiple junctures of the campaign, with Paul George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey all being shut down by the final stretch of games.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, it would appear those injury issues are following them into the new season as well. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, George will not be an active member on the roster when the Sixers open their season against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Oct. 22. 

"I've been talking to people in Paul George's camp, and I'm told that it is not expected that he will be suiting up for opening night next Wednesday in Boston," Charania said on an Oct. 16 episode of NBA Today. "I am told, though, that he is making significant progress after having off-season arthroscopic knee surgery, and a return a should be shortly into the regular season. He still has some check marks he has to hit from his rehab process, because remember, Paul George never got right last season after having a hyperextended knee."

George joined the Sixers on a four-year, $52.8 million deal last season. Unfortunately, he has yet to showcase the skill set that made him one of the most fearsome two-way forwards in the NBA. Instead, Sixers fans have seen a shell of the George we've seen in previous years, leading to multiple questions over president of basketball operations Daryl Morey's decision to invest so heavily in the aging, injury-prone star.

The nine-time All-Star suited up for 41 regular-season games last year, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, converting 43% of his looks from the field and 35.8% from deep.