Sixers veteran forward Paul George has been suspended without pay for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, the league announced (Twitter link). George’s suspension will begin with Saturday’s game against the Pelicans.
George won’t be eligible to play until Philadelphia’s last 10 games of the season. His earliest return date is March 25 against Chicago.
In a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link), George claimed that he took an “improper medication” to deal with his mental health issues.
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” the statement read. “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process. I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.”
The suspension will have a huge impact in a variety of ways, most obviously on the Sixers’ drive to finish in the top six in the East and stay out of the play-in tournament. They’re currently 26-21, sixth-best in the East.
Another offshoot of the suspension is that Philadelphia will receive a tax variance credit of $5,871,147, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). That will move the Sixers just $1.26MM over the luxury tax, Marks notes (Twitter link), giving them added incentive to shed a little salary at the trade deadline in order to become a non-taxpayer.
While Joel Embiid said this week that he hopes the 76ers won’t prioritize ducking the tax, that was when the team was operating roughly $7MM above the luxury tax line. The equation will likely change now that a minor move involving a non-rotation player – rather than a key contributor like Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes – could get the team below that threshold.
In 27 games this season, George is averaging 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night. The suspension will cost him $11,742,293, per Marks, who observes that George can be moved to the suspended list after the fifth game of the ban. In that scenario, he wouldn’t count toward the 15-man roster during the final 20 games of the suspension, temporarily freeing up an extra roster spot for Philadelphia.
The Sixers signed George to a four-year, maximum-salary contract in the summer of 2024 but it hasn’t gone well so far. George spent most of last season dealing with injuries and the Sixers have tried to manage his persistent knee issues with load management this season.
The gift that keeps on giving…that contract just when you think it couldn’t get worst
Oof
Does this mean they can’t trade him for Giannis?
That’s a really good question, can you trade a suspended player?
Yes, a suspended player can be traded in the NBA. A suspension, whether imposed by the team or the league, does not invalidate a player’s contract, allowing them to be moved.
But
Bucks are unlikely to take George contract because George wants to play for a good team or a big market
Is he tradable in summer?
I never want to see this guy on this team ever again.
He’s saying it was some sort of MH stimulant. If that was the case why not see a doctor and prescribed. Athletes can be so stupid sometimes.
It was probably some bad weed..😁😁
Bad weed? LMAO stop. Nobody is putting extra drugs in weed for free.
That’s a lot of money that won’t be going to his wife’s “Daniela Rajic-George” travel and Botox fund.
Cheating never wins!
Patriots disagree.
I’ve said it for years, he’s probably the most overrated player in the league. Now’s he’s the dumbest too. Not a great combo.
Idk man flat earthers are pretty dumb and there’s at least one of those in the NBA lol
I only respected him for 1 year in his 2019 thunder season but after that people were treating him like a top 10 player even though he averaged 20 points and decent defense while getting injured every year
Bobby Portis for the Bucks last year and now Paul George this year… he was playing solid basketball as of late so this will hurt the 76ers for sure
Daryl Morey chose to pay Paul George over James Harden. That’s difficult to justify.
Literally any chatter in these hoopsrumors comments sections clears Morey. I have never seen such an incompetent guy get job after job he does nothing to earn. Zero rings = you don’t deserve to keep getting a job. Let someone else have a turn.
Maxey was the reasoning. I’ll never disagree with you that I wouldn’t have given THAT deal to PG13 myself. The reasoning was Maxey.
James Harden was not staying in Philadelphia but the 76ers should have used that George salary on more role players
To be fair though, Harden made it pretty clear that he wanted out of Philly after Morey didn’t give him the extension
Trust the process.
Buddy was taking MDMA for his mental health
And he still has two years on his contract plus a player option? Which you know he’ll be exercising. Three more years they are stuck with this guy.
I hope this suspension is not over smoking pot. I mean it’s legal most everywhere and it does give one the stamina and peace of mind to make it thru lots of mental and physical turmoil.
The NBA doesn’t care about players smoking weed until the get arrested
I’m willing to bet that it is. And marijuana has different effects on ppl. Some can think better, others get loopy and lazy.
nba doesn’t test for pot it hasn’t for quite some time. KD woulda been suspended 100x by now otherwise lol
The NBA doesn’t even test for it anymore.
Kind of weird that he suspension showed up when A) The Sixers were talking about getting under the Tax and B) They were resting George on and off anyway to rest him for the Playoffs. Who prescribed this mystery drug? Who would know that you could get under the Luxury Tax by having one of your players suspended? Should that even be allowed? The NBA is a strange place with even stranger rules. I think he rules were written by guys dropping acid. They’re far out man. LOL
Seems like the worst part about this is that he cost someone else a roster spot. I’d definitely hold a grudge if I got cut because Podcast P was doing shrooms courtside