Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Paul George's comments are latest major concern for 76ers

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 10:05 PM ET

Paul George endured a turbulent debut season for the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran All-Star was in and out of the rotation, suiting up in just 41 of the Sixers' 82 regular-season games. Eventually, George was shut down for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

George's preparations for the upcoming season were derailed earlier this summer as well. He was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a knee injury during a workout.

During a news conference on Sept. 26, George provided an update on his current status. After all, recovering from surgery likely means he will miss some, if not all, of the Sixers' preseason preparations.

"I'm pretty much everything but full contact," George said. "I'm in the weight room, I'm lifting, working out every day, I'm on the court. Not ready to start the full ramp-up of conditioning on court with running and stuff like that. I'm on the court, I'm working out. I'm doing stationary drills...I'm still able to move and be active on the court, just not ready to be a full-on contact participant right now."

Paul George on what he’s able to do at this particular time:

“Pretty much everything but full contact. I’m in the weight room, I’m lifting, working out every day. I’m on the court. I’m not ready to start the full ramp-up of conditioning on court with running and stuff like that.…
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 26, 2025

If George is unable to participate in the opening games of the season, he will likely join Jared McCain and Joel Embiid on the injury report.

George needs to prove himself in Philadelphia

When the Sixers acquired George last season, he was viewed as the missing piece to Daryl Morey's puzzle. He was supposed to help elevate Philadelphia toward a championship level. Instead, his injury issues re-emerged, and he found himself struggling to make an impact.

Now, with the Sixers likely starting the season behind the eight-ball, George must ensure he showcases the two-way skill set that made him one of the best forwards in the NBA during his prime. He's being paid like a superstar, so it's only fair to expect him to perform at that level, too.

Otherwise, the Sixers may begin to explore potential trades, both for him and eventually Embiid. That's the unfortunate truth of the situation.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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