The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a surprising 4-0 start to the 2025-26 season, a strong beginning as they aim to recover from last year’s lottery finish. This early success has come without veteran star Paul George, who is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
However, that might be about to change, as the team eagerly awaits the nine-time All-Star’s return to the court.
When Can Philadelphia Expect Paul George to Suit Up?
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, George’s return appears imminent. “There definitely is some positive momentum… about Paul George making his season debut sometime in the next week plus … in early November,” Fischer said.
The 35-year-old wing underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July following an injury he sustained during a workout. At that time, the Sixers announced George would be re-evaluated before training camp, which began after media day on Sept. 26. Philadelphia’s star was hopeful he could return “sooner rather than later,” he did not provide a concrete timetable.
On the bright side, the veteran mentioned he feels physically better heading into this season than he did last year. “As far as my body, I do feel better … which is saying a lot because I was dealing with a lot last year. Tried to play through a lot of stuff, which I just couldn’t get over the hump,” George commented.
He battled multiple injuries a season ago, and his performance reflected those struggles. In 41 games, George averaged 16.2 points on 13.9 field goal attempts per game, his lowest numbers since the 2014-15 campaign. The 76ers signed him in the 2024 offseason, seemingly designed for one final championship push in the Joel Embiid era.
While the initial results have not gone as planned, the undefeated 76ers currently lead the Eastern Conference after the season’s first week, even with George sidelined.
How Have the 76ers Succeeded Without Their Star Forward?
Philadelphia’s strong start is primarily thanks to the phenomenal play of standout rookie VJ Edgecombe. The third pick in this year’s draft averages an incredible 22.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds while playing a shocking 40.3 minutes per game. Before the season, Head Coach Nick Nurse announced his plan to start Edgecombe, and the rookie has rewarded that faith with stellar play.
When George returns, he will likely replace Dominick Barlow as the starting power forward. However, Barlow can still earn spot starts throughout the season once he recovers from an elbow injury. Embiid and George are expected to sit out one game of any back-to-back sets, and both stars will be on minutes restrictions early in the campaign to manage their health.