Announcement: Paul George (knee) to play first game for 76ers against Suns
According to ESPN, Paul George is anticipated to make his first appearance of the season with his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers, on Monday night against the Phoenix Suns.
The 34-year-old George sustained a bone bruise in his left knee during the preseason and has been sidelined for the first five games of the regular season, along with fellow Sixers star Joel Embiid, who is also recovering from a knee injury.
The absence of both players has resulted in a rough start for the Sixers, who currently hold a record of 1-4. In their most recent game, they suffered a 124-107 defeat at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. Additionally, Embiid made headlines for shoving a columnist who had criticized his lack of availability.
As for George, he signed a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers in free agency after spending five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Last season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 74 starts. Throughout his 14-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19), and Clippers, he has maintained averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in 867 appearances (819 starts).
The official injury report for Monday's game, which marks the start of a three-game road trip for the 76ers, has not yet been released. This trip also includes a game on Wednesday against the Clippers, where George will face his former team. The status of Embiid's return is still unknown.
