Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George is expected to make his season debut Monday against the Phoenix Suns, a team source said.
The game will also mark George’s Sixers debut after the team signed him to a four-year, $212 million deal in July. He has yet to play this season after hyperextending his left knee in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 14.
So long as the nine-time All-Star doesn’t suffer any setbacks at the team’s morning shootaround or during his pregame routine, George is on track to make his first mark and, they hope, help the Sixers climb out of a 1-4 hole that has been dug while also playing without big man Joel Embiid.
George, 34, spent the past five seasons with the LA Clippers, where he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. He joined Philadelphia after he and the Clippers failed to reach a contract extension.
George’s return will be a rare bit of good news for the Sixers, who have spent the opening month of the season navigating a combination of health woes and off-court issues. Those issues have dampened the positivity that came with their successful summer when they signed George.
As if it wasn’t challenging enough to be without George and Embiid, the Sixers’ public messaging surrounding both of their situations — which included their plan to hold them out of back-to-back games all season long — sparked an investigation by the NBA and, ultimately, a $100,000 fine.
Embiid compounded matters Saturday night when he shoved a local columnist in the Sixers’ locker room in response to an article in which the writer evoked the names of the big man’s late brother and young son while criticizing Embiid for not playing.
For Embiid and George, there is an inevitable pressure that comes with this season of great expectations. Both players are among the most decorated in the game, with 16 All-Star appearances between them, but neither has ever played in the NBA Finals (George has never been past the conference finals, while Embiid has never been past the second round).
That’s the point of their partnership — for two of the game’s best players to join forces at a time when they need each other more than ever. Add in the elite talents of rising star guard Tyrese Maxey, with the widely-respected coaching of Nick Nurse, and the Sixers looked worthy of all the offseason hype.
ESPN was first to report news of George’s season debut.
(Photo: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
