Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Paul George update: Sixers breathe a sigh of relief, but for how long?

By Sai Mohan | Last updated 10/16/24

In a positive update, the 76ers announced Tuesday that Paul George avoided structural damage when he hyperextended his knee during a preseason game on Monday.

The Sixers said that George, their big free agency acquisition, will be re-evaluated in a week, meaning he could potentially miss the season opener against the Bucks on Oct. 23.

"Everything checks out OK," head coach Nick Nurse said, via ESPN, after George attended Tuesday's practice session.

Granted, the Sixers can breathe a sigh of relief. However, the question beckons: can they trust that George's health will hold up for the 82-game grind and a potential deep playoff run?

While George played 74 games last season, his most since 2018-19, the All-Star wing missed a combined 137 regular-season games during his five-year stint with the Clippers. He also missed the 2023 playoffs with a knee sprain and failed to lead L.A. to the 2022 postseason due to a UCL tear. Several insiders noted that the Clippers were reluctant to pay George max dollars this summer due to his inability to stay healthy.

His recent injury history was also why many analysts were unwilling to tip the Sixers as a Super Team despite them forming one, at least on paper, with a Big 3 of Joel Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey.

The health concerns surrounding Embiid and George could make the Sixers a one-man show featuring Maxey. Sadly, this formula might prove futile against the East's powerhouse teams such as the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks and even the blossoming Magic and Pacers.

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