Injuries plagued Paul George for most of last season. With the Philadelphia 76ers unable to get the best out of the NBA superstar in his first season with the team, they shut him down after just 41 games due to a multitude of knee ailments, including a hyperextension.
The health of Joel Embiid, as well as George, is central to the Sixers’ hopes this season. While the former appears ready, a recent health update on the latter from the NBA’s primary insider is cause for some concern.
What Is Paul George’s Status for the Sixers’ Opening Night?
One of the main questions surrounding George this offseason is whether he can be fully healthy to start the season after arthroscopic knee surgery.
ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania has now answered that question; unfortunately, it’s not good news for Sixers fans. It has been confirmed that George is likely to be out for the first game of the season.
Charania provided the following information: “I’ve been talking to people in Paul George’s camp and I’m told that it is not expected he will suit up for opening night next Wednesday in Boston.”
Reporting for NBA Today on 76ers forward Paul George’s status to begin the 2025-26 season: pic.twitter.com/qcWGz4OR1D
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2025
Is Good News on the Horizon?
However, there is some light at the end of the long George injury tunnel, as Charania also noted George’s return to the floor may not come too far into the season.
“I am told he is making significant progress…and a return to debut should be shortly into the regular season,” Charania said. “He still has some check marks he has to hit from his rehab process.”
This is in line with reports that George participated in his first full practice yesterday. Coach Nick Nurse told reporters it was his first day of live scrimmage. “He jumped into a bit of 5-on-5 today, just trying to keep him moving in the right direction.”
Overall, it appears clear that George is making progress, and given his extensive injury history, it’s prudent for the 76ers to be cautious in order to ensure he is 100% healthy. George has arguably yet to truly achieve that milestone during his tenure in Philadelphia, and he’ll undoubtedly be anxious to put on a show alongside Embiid once back on the court.
George should be back to his All-Star caliber self if he can finally get back to full health. Yet, that remains a big question due to his troublesome history of knee injuries.
Although the news is undoubtedly worrisome for some fans, there seems to be some reason for optimism, even George misses the first game or two. The key is ensuring he’s healthy all year, and that’s a different proposition entirely.