On Monday, July 14, the Philadelphia 76ers’ preseason preparations suffered a huge blow, as it was revealed that Paul George has undergone arthroscopic surgery. The Sixers star suffered an injury during a recent workout.
In a July 15 appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, NBA Insider Shams Charania shed some light on why George opted to undergo surgery. He also touched on his potential recovery timeline.
“The doctors felt like this would be an injury that would linger,” Charania said. “For a player that was never healthy all last year, Paul George’s season ended rehabbing from injections on groin and knee injuries. He had a finger injury during the season as well, and now he starts rehab for this knee injury and he will be re-evaluated at the start of this upcoming training camp, but I am told both sides will be cautious with him, want to see Paul George return to that full form Paul George they have not seen in Philadelphia.”
George is yet to showcase his All-Star talent in a Sixers jersey. He played in exactly 50% of Philadelphia’s regular-season games, but never found himself on the court long enough to build up a rhythm. George’s latest setback will undoubtedly be a concern for the Sixers.
Sixers’ Joel Embiid Provides Recovery Update
Joel Embiid has also been dealing with injury issues over the past two years. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee in April. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Dotun Akintoye, Embiid admitted there’s currently no timeline for when he will return to on-court activities.
“We don’t have a timeline,” Embiid told Akintoye. “Hopefully, sooner rather than later…I don’t know how they (the Sixers) feel. The only thing I’d say is — this is a business. It’s all about the results…If I come back early enough and I’m still not myself, guess what? You’re not winning any games.”
Philadelphia could potentially head into the 2025-26 season with neither of its top stars available for selection. If both Embiid and George struggle with health issues again this season, the Sixers could face similar struggles to their last campaign.
Sixers Hit With Harsh Reality
During a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, insider Tim McMahon shared a harsh reality the Sixers are currently facing.
“The Philadelphia 76ers are built on a flimsy foundation,” McMahon said. “They are built on a foundation of two max players who might be the two worst value contracts in the NBA. And it is not about talent. Joel Embiid and Paul George are incredibly talented players. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing that sitting on the bench in street clothes.”
Philadelphia’s current core is reaching an infelection point. If Embiid and George can’t get and stay healthy for the upcoming season, Daryl Morey must consider entering a rebuild. After all, the current roster is built around those two stars. Without them on the court, the Sixers can’t be seen as genuine championship contenders.
Fortunately, there’s still more than enough time for Embiid and George to recover. However, following last season’s debacle, Sixers fans are unlikely to be too hopeful.
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