Paul George ruled out for season after receiving injections to his groin and left knee
George has sat out the last six games while consulting with doctors on treatment options for his ailments. Now his first season with the Sixers is finished after he played in just 41 games.
HOUSTON — The expected Paul George news became official on Monday.
The 76ers forward was ruled out for the remainder of the season on the day he received injections in the left adductor muscle in his groin and his left knee. The procedure will sideline the nine-time All-Star for at least six weeks.
George has sat out the last six games while consulting with doctors on treatment options for his ailments. Now his first season with the Sixers is finished after playing in only 41 games.
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”Among a lot of players, he falls in the category of a tough season, injury-wise … and now this,” coach Nick Nurse said. “My biggest thing is we are where we are with it and with all of the other guys, too, as I mentioned the other night. [It is] just getting them fixed up first, and then healed up and back to being able to get working at their craft again, and physically back to 100%.”
George averaged 16.2 points, the fourth-lowest average of his 15 NBA seasons, after signing a four-year, $211.5 million maximum-salary contract in July to form a Big Three with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Embiid (left knee management) was ruled out for the remainder of the season last month after playing in only 19 games. Meanwhile, Maxey will miss his eighth consecutive game Monday against the Houston Rockets with a lower-back sprain. He hopes to return this season.
Two other players — Jared McCain (left knee meniscus surgery) and Eric Gordon (right wrist) — are also out for the remainder of the season. In all, the Sixers had 11 players ruled out for the game against the Rockets.
George has been dealing with injuries since the preseason.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder was sidelined three weeks after hyperextending his left knee, which led to a bone bruise, during an Oct. 14 exhibition game against the Atlanta Hawks. He suffered the same injury during the Sixers’ Nov. 20 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
He’s also been hampered by left groin soreness, right ankle soreness, and a torn tendon in his left little finger. In all, he missed 26 of the first 67 games because of injuries and ailments before being shut down for the season.
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George had been taking painkilling injections to play while battling through his injuries.
He announced during the last episode of Podcast P With Paul George that he was taking a step back from the podcast to focus on getting healthy and helping the Sixers turn things around. The decision came before the Feb. 26 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
George played in the next three games before taking time off to undergo the evaluations.