Paul George left the Sixers’ preseason game against Atlanta on Monday with a hyperextended left knee, according to the team.
George, the biggest free agent acquisition of the offseason, suffered the non-contact injury during the first half. The injury puts George’s availablity for the start of the regular season in jeopardy. Philadelphia opens at home against Minnesota on Oct. 23 and has three more regular-season games during the month.
George was signed away from the Clippers on a four-year max contract as Philadelphia’s top target. George appeared in 74 regular-season games last season, the most he played since the 2018/19 season with Oklahoma City. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He also played in all six postseason games against Dallas.
Coach Nick Nurse sounded somewhat optimistic about George’s injury after the game, Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
“Certainly trying to work him into things, and he wants to work into things, too. So this doesn’t give him a chance to do that,” Nurse said about George getting acclimated with his new teammates. “Hopefully, it’ll be OK so he’s back with us right away.”
George told Mizell he was “not too concerned” about his knee (Twitter link).
Sixers superstar Joel Embiid has already been ruled out for the rest of the preseason due to left knee management.
This team is going to suck. Bunch of injured out of shape players other than Maxey that are supposed to carry them but who will only play about 40 games each. Pathetic roster building
PG won’t be able to play in the front OR back end of back-to-backs.
Or games on days that end with a “y”.
Maxey gonna be worn out.
Sixers season going exactly as expected already