There was hope going into the 2024-25 season for the Sixers. Daryl Morey used the cap space he created to lure nine-time All-Star Paul George away from the West Coast to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
That hope dissipated before opening night.
Embiid missed the first nine games of the season because of injuries and suspension. He played just 19 games overall and was shut down by February.
For George, it was much more of a rollercoaster. After looking sharp in his preseason debut and to start
the following game, George hyperextended his knee, forcing him to miss the first five games of the regular season. After playing in just four games, George re-aggravated the injury in his fifth contest. Between the knee and groin and finger injuries, he played in just 41 games, rarely resembling the player the Sixers thought they were getting. He was mercifully shut down for the season on March 4.
And just when George thought all of that was behind him, he suffered another injury to his knee during an offseason workout that required surgery back in July. That delayed his 2025-26 debut.
Two hundred fifty-nine days after his last game, P.G. returned to an NBA floor.
“It felt great to finally play basketball again,” George said. “It was a long journey — a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups, but it felt good to finally get out there. I felt good — just rusty, but I felt good.“
As expected, it was a modest season debut for the six-time All-NBA performer. On a minutes restriction, George scored nine points on just 2-of-9 from the field, but stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a little over 21 minutes.
Much like with Embiid this season, Nick Nurse got George’s minutes out of the way to begin quarters and the big wing didn’t close the contest. Tyrese Maxey and company took care of business against George’s former team, staging another late comeback to eek out a 110-108 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena Monday.
There was obvious rust for George to work through, but he looked fluid. He said he felt good physically, able to trust his body and movements and play free.
He was aggressive in looking for his shot on offense, making a three on his first attempt less than a minute into the game.
“There were so many emotions inside, there was zero emotions outside,” he said. “Honestly, I was just trying to focus on the game, staying locked in and engaged, but it felt great to make the first shot.”
It’s easy to see how the 35-year-old can make a massive impact for this current roster, even if he’s not quite the player of old and scoring at an All-Star level. He made a legitimate impact on defense and aided a team desperate for help on the glass.
Even if he’s not fully himself, George’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. Embiid remains out while dealing with soreness in his right knee, though Nurse did say the team considers the big man day-to-day.
What’s funny is the bigger injury might be starting wing Kelly Oubre Jr. suffering a sprained LCL. Oubre has been as important as any player on the roster outside of Maxey for the team’s strong start. The 29-year-old was averaging 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while frequently being asked to guard the opponent’s best perimeter player. He’s been far and away the team’s most effective wing.
Though Justin Edwards seems to be finding his game a bit, having a player with George’s size, experience and basketball IQ is massive for a guard-heavy team.
And George himself sees what Maxey and his teammates have been building. He’s been eager to be a part of it.
“It was challenging because I want to be out there with the guys,” George said. “I wanted to play, watching days go by, games go by where I couldn’t compete. It’s tough to want to compete, play and be part of something we’re trying to do here, be a part of that.”
The offseason ahead of 2025-26 was mostly full of dread, with nobody knowing for sure when/if Embiid and George would be ready. Well, it’s Nov. 18 — both players have played games and the team is 8-5.
Don’t map out the parade route just yet, but this beats the hell out of the alternative for George and the Sixers.
