On Monday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported what Philadelphia Sixers fans didn't want to hear -- that Paul George underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee after getting injured during a recent workout. He will be re-evaluated before the start of training camp in a few months.
On Tuesday, Charania said that the Sixers want to see George return to his "full form," that of which they haven't seen since he signed a four-year deal with the team last summer. He added that both sides will be "cautious" with the injury. It sounds like Philadelphia and George will take things slow, meaning he might not be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Reporting for NBA Today on Paul George's surgically repaired knee and how this impacts his and the 76ers offseason: pic.twitter.com/leOf6zp8u5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2025
To make matters worse, Joel Embiid also might not be ready for the start of the season after having knee surgery in April. He has only been cleared to participate in partial basketball activities.
The Sixers won't be able to make the championship run they desire if Embiid and George have a season similar to last year's, where both dealt with injuries. How George will look when he is healthy and able to play is a question mark, as he's coming off a disappointing season where he averaged 16.2 points per game. His fit in Philly hasn't been what the Sixers hoped it would be.
Paul George may miss the start of the Sixers' season
There is no need for Philadelphia to try to rush George back to the floor if he isn't cleared in time for training camp. He's an injury-prone 35-year-old. The goal is for him (and Embiid) to be at his best in time for the playoffs, but as Charania mentioned, that version of George hasn't shown up in Philly yet.
It's hard not to feel like this week's George injury update is another bad sign for the Sixers. It's not a good omen for the injuries to begin in mid-July. The only silver lining is that it's not midseason, so Philadelphia doesn't have to worry about George missing games (not yet, at least), and he doesn't feel pressure to rush back to the floor.
Perhaps the Sixers' luck will turn around within the next couple of months, and George will be ready for training camp. If that's the case, hopefully, he will be as close to 100 percent as possible, but that might turn out to be nothing more than wishful thinking.