Paul George Apologizes As He Returns to the Sixers Lineup

Paul George hasn't played a single NBA game since late January, and in that time, the Philadelphia 76ers have gone 13-12. Suspended for violating the NBA's anti-drug program, George has sat out the past 25 games  while his team tried to contend for a guaranteed playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Add in the injuries to Joel Embiid, who's barely played since the All-Star break, and Tyrese Maxey, who's been nursing a tendon injury in his shooting hand, and it’s a surprise to see that the 76ers are just a single game out of sixth place. Having played just 27 games before his suspension, the Sixers were 16-11 with George in the lineup and 23-22 without him. 

On Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls, George made his return, one that the Sixers and their fans are hoping will push them over the hump. And by all accounts, it may as George finished the night with 28 points (11-22FG and 6-13 3pt), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. 

Before hitting the court, George faced the media on Tuesday and didn't dodge taking accountability for his actions. He opened with a direct apology to the city of Philadelphia, his family, his teammates, and the entire organization, everyone he felt he let down through the suspension.  He was upfront about where his head was at when he made the mistake, connecting his actions to his mental health struggles from an offseason knee injury. "The most difficult thing is when your body isn't where you know it needs to be or where it once was," he said. "That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things."

George also noted that despite being an NBA star, he is still human. "I've said it throughout my career dealing with mental health: I'm no superhero. I'm a human. And I made a mistake." 

The silver lining? During his suspension, George reportedly worked tirelessly with teammates in practice, contributed heavily to film sessions, and played a major role in supporting younger players such as rookie VJ Edgecombe. 

In his sixteenth season, and second with the Sixers, George is averaging just 16 points, 5 rebounds, and a shade under four assists. While the numbers are far from his All-Star days, George is still capable of being one of the best two-way players in the league, something that the Sixers were leaning heavily on when they signed him to a massive 4-year / $212 million deal in the summer of 2024.