The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a surprising 7-4 start to the 2025–26 season, a promising turnaround after last year’s disappointing lottery finish. What makes their strong start even more impressive is that it’s come without veteran star Paul George, who continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.
Now, the nine-time All-Star appears to be nearing his long-awaited return, and the Sixers are eager to get their leader back on the floor.
Paul George in the Final Stages of Return from Knee Surgery
George’s continued absence from the 76ers’ roster is a cause for concern and a source of frustration for the team’s fan base. After trading away James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers in return for George, the 76ers were expected to remain in contention for a title by pairing up George with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented the three stars from spending much time on the court together last season, and the 76ers finished with a subpar record of 24 wins and 58 losses. While many may have hoped for things to go differently this season, George’s knee surgery and extended rehabilitation have delayed his season debut.
That may be about to change. NBA insider Shams Charania reported Tuesday night that George is in the “final stage” of his return process.
“76ers’ Paul George is in the final stage of his debut process and will be re-evaluated later this week. He is moving closer to a return, but doctors want additional strength of his left quadriceps to support the knee before clearance,” Charania wrote.
George was evaluated over the weekend, and the reported verdict indicates he is ramping up his conditioning and building strength in his legs to prevent any re-aggravation of last season’s issues.
George hyperextended his knee during the preseason last year and was never quite the same afterward. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals over 41 games before the Sixers shut him down to protect his long-term health, a move that ultimately helped them retain a first-round pick, later used to draft V.J. Edgecombe.
Despite missing George and with Embiid still managing his workload, the 76ers are off to an impressive 7-4 start this season. Edgecombe has been a revelation, averaging 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in over 37 minutes per game. Maxey has also continued his ascent as the team’s offensive engine, putting up 32.9 points and 8.3 assists per game through the early stretch.
When George returns, he is expected to reclaim a spot in the starting lineup, and the earliest possible return date is Friday against the surging Detroit Pistons in NBA Cup action, though the November 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, his former team, appears to be the more realistic target.
