Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers has been suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program, the league announced on Saturday.
The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance involved. George said in a statement to ESPN that he had taken something “improper” while seeking treatment for a personal issue.
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George said. He apologized to the team and its fans and said he takes “full responsibility for my actions”.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, a 25-game ban indicates a first violation. George began serving the suspension on Saturday when Philadelphia hosted New Orleans.
The suspension will cost George – a nine-time All-Star – roughly $11.7m of his $51.7m salary, or about $470,000 per game. Part of the forfeited money will count as a tax credit, leaving the 76ers about $1.3m over the luxury-tax line.
George is expected to be eligible to return on 25 March, when Philadelphia host Chicago, with 10 regular-season games likely remaining. The 76ers entered Saturday at 26-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference, and are 16-11 when George plays compared with 10-10 in his absence.
He has averaged 16 points in 27 games this season, third on the team behind Tyrese Maxey (29.4) and Joel Embiid (25.7). Earlier this week he scored 32 points, hitting nine three-pointers in a win over Milwaukee.
The 35-year-old signed a four-year, $212m contract in free agency before the 2024-25 season, but his first year in Philadelphia was disrupted by knee and adductor injuries and proved one of the least productive of his career. He averaged 16.2 points in 41 games, his lowest full-season scoring mark since his second year in the league with Indiana, later describing the campaign as “rock bottom”.
George underwent surgery on his left knee in July after a workout injury and missed the first 12 games of the current season. With Joel Embiid fit and Maxey emerging as an All-Star starter, the 76ers had remained in the playoff mix, while rookie No 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe provided further optimism.
With the 5 February trade deadline approaching, George’s suspension could shape Philadelphia’s plans as they weigh their push for the postseason.
