The Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George has been suspended 25 games without pay after violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, the league announced Saturday. The suspension stems from what George described as taking an “improper medication” while seeking treatment for a personal mental health-related issue.
In a statement shared with ESPN’s Shams Charania, George took full accountability for the mistake.
“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,” George said. “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.”
George added that he intends to use the suspension period to prioritize his well-being. “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 begins immediately, starting with Saturday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. George will not be eligible to return until March 25, when Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bulls. By that point, only 10 regular-season games will remain.
George is expected to lose approximately $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, breaking down to nearly $470,000 per game missed.
At 35, George has been a key part of Philadelphia’s resurgence this year after last season’s injury-plagued collapse. The Sixers entered Saturday sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, positioning themselves as a playoff contender.
On the court, George has averaged 16 points per game, shooting 38.2% from three-point range across 27 appearances this season. While not his most dominant statistical year, his veteran presence and two-way impact have been central to the team’s stability.
Now, Philadelphia will have to navigate a critical stretch of the season without one of its most experienced stars.
