According to Shams Charania’s report on ESPN, Paul George is unlikely to participate in the Philadelphia 76ers’ opening game of the season against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. He still “has some checkmarks he has to hit” as he continues his return to the court after undergoing left arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason.
Charania suggests that the nine-time All Star’s return might not be far off — potentially “shortly into the regular season.” He also mentioned that George took part in some five-on-five drills during Thursday’s practice.
Coach Nick Nurse stated on Thursday, “We are trying to progress him through the stages, from five-on-zero drills to some limited live action yesterday. Today, he joined in a brief five-on-five session. We’re simply aiming to keep him moving forward in a positive direction.”
When questioned about the level of optimism surrounding George’s potential availability for the season’s inaugural game, Nurse appeared doubtful.
“Nah,” Nurse responded. “Yesterday marked his initial live session — albeit with a small number of players — and today’s five-on-five was brief. We’ll need to continue waiting.”
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James Herbert
George, who is 35 years old, underwent the surgical procedure in mid-July following an injury sustained during a training session. This occurred just over a year after he committed to a four-year agreement with Philadelphia, valued at $212 million, during the previous offseason.
The 2024-25 season proved to be profoundly disappointing for both George and the 76ers. George contended with a series of injuries, participating in only 41 games and recording averages of 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. The 16.2 points per game represented his lowest figure since the 2014-15 season, during which he played in a mere eight games. The 76ers, who also experienced extended absences from Joel Embiid (limited to 19 games) and Tyrese Maxey (52 games), decided to sideline George for the remainder of the season in May.
Considering Embiid and George’s ages and their respective histories of injuries, the 76ers present one of the more challenging teams to forecast for the 2025-26 season, even within what appears to be a highly competitive Eastern Conference. When in good health, Philadelphia boasts considerable star talent, complemented by a dependable supporting cast that includes Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre Jr., and VJ Edgecombe, who was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, maintaining consistent health has been a challenge, and the team will be hoping that George’s likely absence at the start of the year does not signal further injury setbacks.
The 76ers are scheduled to conclude their preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. While George is not expected to participate, Coach Nurse indicated that there’s a possibility Embiid could play in the preseason finale as he prepares for the regular season.
