In a disheartening turn of events for the Philadelphia 76ers, their latest acquisition, Paul George, suffered an injury during a preseason contest against the Atlanta Hawks. According to Gina Mizell from the Philadelphia Inquirer, George experienced a left knee hyperextension in the second quarter and was unable to return to the game. The injury occurred as he was defending, stepping back awkwardly while being maneuvered against by an opponent.
Prior to this setback, George showcased his skills in the only other preseason game last week, contributing 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists, albeit in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. On Monday, he managed to score eight points in just 12 minutes of play before leaving the matchup due to the injury.
With merely two preseason games remaining, the 76ers may choose to sideline George until the regular season, allowing ample time for his recovery. Compounding their concerns, the team has already declared that star center Joel Embiid will sit out the remainder of the preseason as part of left knee injury management, as reported by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
This offseason, Paul George inked a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers, concluding a five-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. His recent seasons have been marred by injuries, having played only 54 games in the 2020-21 season, 31 games in the 2021-22 season, and 56 games in the 2022-23 season. However, last year marked a welcome respite from injury woes, as he played 74 games, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
The 76ers are fervently hoping that George’s latest injury is not of a long-term nature, allowing him to return to the court as the regular season approaches. After a disappointing 47-35 season that culminated in a first-round playoff exit against the New York Knicks, the team made significant moves this offseason by acquiring George to join forces with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Their ambition is clear: to finally break through and vie for a championship.