Philadelphia 76ers ahead Paul George is anticipated to make his season debut Monday in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, a crew supply stated.
The sport will even mark George’s Sixers debut after the crew signed him to a four-year, $212 million deal in July. He has but to play this season after hyperextending his left knee in a preseason sport in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 14.
As long as the nine-time All-Star doesn’t endure any setbacks on the crew’s morning shootaround or throughout his pregame routine, George is on monitor to make his first mark and, they hope, assist the Sixers climb out of a 1-4 gap that has been dug whereas additionally taking part in with out massive man Joel Embiid.
George, 34, spent the previous 5 seasons with the LA Clippers, the place he averaged 22.6 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.5 assists final season. He joined Philadelphia after he and the Clippers failed to succeed in a contract extension.
George’s return shall be a uncommon bit of excellent information for the Sixers, who’ve spent the opening month of the season navigating a mixture of well being woes and off-court points. These points have dampened the positivity that got here with their profitable summer time after they signed George.
As if it wasn’t difficult sufficient to be with out George and Embiid, the Sixers’ public messaging surrounding each of their conditions — which included their plan to carry them out of back-to-back video games all season lengthy — sparked an investigation by the NBA and, in the end, a $100,000 nice.
Embiid compounded issues Saturday evening when he shoved a neighborhood columnist within the Sixers’ locker room in response to an article through which the author evoked the names of the massive man’s late brother and younger son whereas criticizing Embiid for not taking part in.
For Embiid and George, there may be an inevitable stress that comes with this season of nice expectations. Each gamers are among the many most embellished within the sport, with 16 All-Star appearances between them, however neither has ever performed within the NBA Finals (George has by no means been previous the convention finals, whereas Embiid has by no means been previous the second spherical).
That’s the purpose of their partnership — for 2 of the sport’s finest gamers to affix forces at a time after they want one another greater than ever. Add within the elite abilities of rising star guard Tyrese Maxey, with the widely-respected teaching of Nick Nurse, and the Sixers regarded worthy of all of the offseason hype.
ESPN was first to report information of George’s season debut.
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