The 76ers’ new star forward, Paul George, faced an injury scare when his left knee buckled during a preseason game in Atlanta, but the good news is, it’s not as bad as it could have been.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George sustained a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee, but thankfully, there’s no structural damage. Coach Nick Nurse reassured fans, saying, “Everything checks out OK,” after the team’s doctors reviewed the injury at their New Jersey facility.
An MRI later confirmed the bone bruise, and the team announced George would be re-evaluated in about a week. With the 76ers kicking off the 2024-25 season next Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, they’re giving George the time he needs to recover.
George, who wasn’t scheduled to play in Wednesday’s preseason game against Brooklyn even before the injury, will have a clearer recovery timeline after further evaluations.
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The nine-time All-Star suffered the injury while defending a play in the second quarter of Monday’s game against Atlanta. Despite the early exit, George managed to score eight points in just 12 minutes in a game the Sixers won 104-89.
“I felt that it hyperextended, and I immediately knew I needed to come out and get checked,” George told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “But if you ask me, I’m not too concerned about it.”
The Sixers have been cautious with their star players, including resting center Joel Embiid for the remainder of the preseason to manage his left knee.
George, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia this summer, is now part of his fourth NBA team, having played for Indiana, Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s a six-time All-NBA selection and has averaged 20.8 points per game over his 14-year career.
With George, reigning MVP Joel Embiid, and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to have one of the most formidable trios in the league, aiming to challenge the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics.
Last season, George played 76 games, marking his healthiest stretch since 2018-19.
