Paul George’s Knee Injury: A Potential Setback for Philadelphia 76ers

In a recent preseason victory over Atlanta, Paul George, a standout player for the Philadelphia 76ers, experienced a hyperextended left knee that led to his early exit from the game. 76ers coach Nick Nurse expressed his hopes for George’s quick recovery and subsequent return to the court.

George’s Preseason Struggles with the 76ers

George, who recently joined the 76ers after signing a four-year maximum contract as a free agent this offseason, was in his second preseason game when the injury occurred. The mishap took place as he was defending Atlanta Hawks’ forward Jalen Johnson. With slightly more than eight minutes left in the second quarter, George’s left leg took an awkward turn.

Despite the abrupt end to his participation in the game, George seemed confident about his condition. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and (looked at), but if you ask me, I’m not too concerned about it.”

The 76ers’ Health Concerns Extend to Joel Embiid

In addition to George’s injury, the 76ers had already announced that star center Joel Embiid would also be absent for the remainder of the preseason. Embiid is still recovering from a left knee injury from the previous season, limiting his total games to 39. The team is cautiously preparing for the regular-season home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 23.

76ers’ Management on Player Health

Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations for the 76ers, conveyed that the team is likely to be lenient about back-to-back games for both George and Embiid. This strategy aligns with the team’s cautious approach towards their star players’ health.

While Embiid’s injury history has been a topic of discussion — he has missed 204 games over the past eight seasons and sat out his first two years in the NBA due to foot injuries — George’s 74 games in his final year with the Clippers were his highest since 2019. This came after he’d played no more than 56 games in each of his previous four seasons in Los Angeles.