Paul George’s first game with the Philadelphia 76ers is delayed, and Joel Embiid will once again miss time due to an injury.
Both Embiid and George will not play in Wednesday’s season opener against Milwaukee, and they might miss more games as the All-Stars try to return from their injuries in hopes of helping Philadelphia win its first championship since 1983.
George was set to make his debut with the Sixers after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers and signing a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. During a preseason game, the 34-year-old George suffered a bone bruise when he hyperextended his left knee.
The Sixers did not specify on Tuesday how many additional games George might miss; his return will be evaluated later in the week.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers mentioned on Tuesday that Bucks forward Khris Middleton is also not expected to play on Wednesday. The three-time All-Star hasn’t participated in any 5-on-5 practices during the preseason while recovering from surgeries on both of his ankles.
“It’s pretty 100% to 99,” Rivers said about the chance that Middleton won’t play. George, a nine-time All-Star, got injured when his knee buckled during a defensive play in the second quarter of a game against Atlanta last week.
George has struggled with injuries for much of his career, but he played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 games since 2018-19.
He talked about the bone bruise this week on his “Podcast P with Paul George.” A six-time All-NBA selection, George said his knee is stable, with no significant damage, and he does not have any long-term health concerns.
“My leg literally just got stuck. I don’t even know what else to call it. Just my knee locked up, my leg locked up,” George said on his podcast. “When I went to go push off, all my momentum is going forward and my leg, it just caused it to go inwards. I know I’m thinking of when I seen it immediately I was like, ah, this don’t feel right, this don’t feel right.”
The Sixers have games scheduled on Sunday at Indiana and home games on Wednesday and Saturday.
“I’m going to be good. I’m going to be good,” George said. “I should be back hopefully sooner than later, but it won’t be a long timetable I would imagine.” The Sixers are facing a familiar situation with Embiid. He did not participate in the preseason due to a sore left knee.
The Sixers stated that Embiid was “responding well” to his personalized rehab plan and was set to scrimmage this week. He will also miss Friday’s game against Toronto and will be reassessed this weekend.
The 30-year-old, who won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA, signed a $193 million contract before training camp. The 76ers have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2001, mainly because Embiid has not been healthy for a full postseason.
Embiid has never played more than 68 games in a season and was limited to 39 games last season largely due to knee surgery. He tore the meniscus in his left knee on January 30 and had surgery on February 6.
“We’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy,” Embiid said in September. “It’s whatever it takes to make sure I get to that point and I’m ready to go. Basically, every single year of my career I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. That’s the goal, doing whatever it takes to get there.”
The 76ers had a record of 31-8 last season with Embiid, which is about a 65-win pace, but they struggled with a 16-27 record without him.
Embiid shared before training camp that he lost about 25 to 30 pounds over the summer to stay in better shape for the long season. He wants to avoid rushing back from any knee issues.
“Until I’m at that point where they feel like I’m ready to go, I’m sure they’re going to hold me back,” Embiid said at the team’s media day. “I believe with the guys that we have, and what I can bring to the table, we have a pretty good chance (at a title).”
He has received five All-NBA Team honors, made seven consecutive All-Star selections from 2017-24, earned three All-Defensive Team spots, and has been the NBA scoring champion twice.
With George joining the 2023 NBA MVP Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to have one of the strongest trios in the league as they aim to build a team that can compete with NBA champion Boston.
Maxey is expected to play after suffering a bruised right thumb in the preseason.
Regarding the Bucks, Rivers mentioned that Middleton’s injury is more of a day-to-day situation and shouldn’t keep him out for long. Middleton dealt with various injuries that limited him to 55 regular-season games last year and 33 in the 2022-23 season.
“I’d say if this was a playoff game, he’d probably be playing, or close to it,” Rivers said. Taurean Prince has been starting in place of Middleton during the preseason.
