Paul George is set to make his return to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup on Wednesday night when the team hosts the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
What Is Paul George’s Status?
The nine-time All-Star has completed his 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program and is eligible to play against Chicago. Head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that George will not need a ramp-up period and is expected to be a full participant in his first game back.
George addressed the media on Tuesday at the 76ers’ practice facility in Camden, N.J., in his first public comments since the suspension was announced in late January. The 35-year-old forward opened his press conference with an apology to the organization, his teammates, and the city of Philadelphia.
Paul George describes what led to his 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
“I’ve said it throughout my career dealing with mental health: I’m no superhero. I’m a human. And I made a mistake at that moment.” pic.twitter.com/76NyW3UniA
— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) March 24, 2026
“First and foremost, to give my apology to the city of Philadelphia, my family, my teammates, the organization, everybody that was affected through this suspension,” George said. “To let people down hurt more than kind of anything going through this process.
“Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you. My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be. The expectations to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be, obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself. That’s what led to a poor decision at the time.”
The silver lining of the extended absence is that George’s knee has had additional time to heal. Nurse praised George’s work ethic throughout the suspension, noting that the forward attended most practices and often led the scout team while emulating the opponent’s best player.
The Sixers are 13-12 over the last 25 games. However, they slipped from sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings down to seventh. Philadelphia is currently 39-33 and finds itself in a crowded pack of teams fighting for playoff positioning
George’s return comes at a critical time, as the 76ers are dealing with multiple injuries to key players. Joel Embiid has been sidelined with an oblique injury for nearly a month, though he was recently upgraded to questionable on the injury report.
Tyrese Maxey has been out since March 7 with a tendon injury to his right pinkie finger and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
George averaged 16.2 points per game in 27 appearances this season before the suspension, the lowest scoring average of his career in a healthy season since his second year with the Indiana Pacers. He signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The Bulls clash represents a favorable opportunity for George to knock off some rust. Chicago enters the game well outside the playoff picture and should provide a manageable test as George works his way back into game shape.
