Paul George revealed on Friday morning at the Philadelphia Sixers' Media Day that he won't be able to practice at training camp, at least not initially. As he works to return to full health, he said he will focus on being a veteran mentor, which can, of course, carry over to the court when he's able to play again.
The Sixers are in a unique position. They're not in a rebuilding phase, but they do have rookie VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the draft. They're not regarded as contenders, but if everyone can stay healthy (it hasn't started well with George and Jared McCain), Philadelphia can certainly make some noise in the East.
George will be a big part of the Sixers (hopefully) making a deep playoff run. He's coming off the most disappointing season of his career. It was tough to feel too optimistic about George having a turnaround season in 2025-26, and that optimism all but faded when he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee in July.
The 35-year-old believes that he still has a lot of game left in him and that he can be the player that he was before Philadelphia signed him. In the meantime, he'll use his decade of experience to help guide his younger teammates.
Paul George makes it clear what he expects his role to be this season
Yes, George had a down year last season, but what happened then doesn't define who he is as a player. His resume speaks for itself. He's a nine-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA player, and a four-time All-Defensive Team player. His most recent All-Star season was in 2024, and even though it may not feel like it, he can return to that level of play.
It's great to have George in the locker room, even when he can't play. There isn't a silver lining to Jared McCain suffering a UCL tear in his right thumb, but it helps to have a player like George around, not just because he's also recovering from an injury, but because he knows what it's like to deal with those kinds of setbacks.
Hopefully, neither George nor McCain will miss too much time, as the Sixers have a lot to prove this season. There isn't a player on the roster who has more to prove than George. He's aware of that.