CAMDEN, N.J. — Paul George declined to get into the specifics of the failed drug test that landed him a 25-game suspension however says he’s mentally and bodily prepared to assist the Philadelphia 76ers with their playoff push over the past 10 video games of the season.
George will play for the Sixers on Wednesday evening towards the Chicago Bulls.
The Sixers — who additionally performed the previous 13 video games with out an injured Joel Embiid — went 13-12 in George’s absence and entered Tuesday evening’s video games at 39-33 and in seventh place within the Eastern Conference standings.
George was suspended in late January for violating the phrases of the NBA’s anti-drug program.
He opened his assertion Tuesday on the 76ers’ complicated in New Jersey with an apology to the workforce, its followers and his household for the poor judgment that led to his flunked take a look at.
“To let people down hurt more than kind of anything,” George stated.
He stated his option to take a banned substance was linked to a mental health concern that developed due to an offseason knee harm that restricted his manufacturing this season.
“The most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be or where it once was,” George stated. “That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited. But for me, I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do and what I’ve been able to on the court for years.”
George has averaged 16 factors in 27 video games this season for the Sixers. He had considered one of his greatest video games of the season within the week he was suspended, a 32-point outburst fueled by 9 3-pointers in a win over Milwaukee.
George, 35, signed a $212 million, four-year contract in free company forward of the 2024 season. But his first yr in Philly was marred by knee and adductor accidents that resulted within the ahead having one of many worst years of his NBA profession.
George averaged 16.2 factors in simply 41 video games, simply his lowest scoring common in a full season since he averaged 12.1 factors for Indiana in his second NBA season.
He then had surgical procedure in July on his left knee after he was injured throughout a exercise, and he missed the primary 12 video games of this season.
“Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you,” George stated. “My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be. The expectations to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be, obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself. That’s what led to a poor decision at the time.”
George stated the hiatus gave time for his physique to heal from nagging accidents, therapeutic that in flip has improved his mind-set.
“These 25 games were just what I needed, I think, for my body,” he stated.
The suspension value George — a nine-time All-Star — roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million wage, or about $469,692 for every of the 25 video games missed.
“I’ve said it throughout my career, dealing with mental health, I’m no superhero,” George stated. “I’m human, and I made a mistake in that moment.”
Embiid, the 2023 MVP, has missed the previous 13 video games with a proper indirect pressure, and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has missed 9 straight video games with a proper finger tendon pressure.
There was no instant timetable on their returns.
George stated he is able to fill the scoring void and elevate the Sixers out of the play-in bubble and securely into the playoffs.
“I’ve been feeling great, feeling explosive again, feeling strong again,” he stated. “I feel like I’m back on that level of being able to perform and be the focal guy and be the scorer.”
