ATLANTA — In a concerning turn of events for the Philadelphia 76ers, star free-agent signing Paul George sustained a hyperextended left knee during Monday’s preseason contest against the Atlanta Hawks.

The extent of George’s injury remains uncertain, and there has been no immediate word on how long he might be sidelined. The nine-time All-Star experienced the injury while making a defensive move in the second quarter, having contributed eight points in 12 minutes before exiting. The game ultimately ended in a 104-89 victory for the 76ers.

The franchise has taken a careful approach with their key players; just the day before, All-Star center Joel Embiid was also sidelined for the remainder of the preseason due to what the team described as left knee management.

George, who recently joined the 76ers on a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract, is now in his fourth team throughout his 14-year career. Previously, he played for the Indiana Pacers for seven seasons, followed by two years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and most recently spent five years with the Los Angeles Clippers. He is a six-time All-NBA selection with a career average of 20.8 points per game.

In his first preseason game against Minnesota last week, George excelled, making eight out of 15 shots and leading the team with a total of 23 points. Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring updates on his recovery as the regular season approaches.