PHILADELPHIA — The forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, Paul George, seemed to have avoided any serious long-term injury from a hyperextended left knee sustained during a recent preseason matchup.
Coach Nick Nurse informed the media on Tuesday at the team’s training facility in New Jersey that initial evaluations were promising, noting, “Everything checks out OK.” George was present for the practice and was slated to undergo further tests later that same day.
Prior to the injury, George was not expected to participate in the upcoming preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Nurse mentioned that there was no specific timeline regarding George’s potential absence until additional imaging results were available.
George, a nine-time All-Star, encountered the injury during the second quarter while playing defense in Monday’s game against Atlanta, where he managed to score eight points over a span of 12 minutes in a game that resulted in a 104-89 win.
“I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and (looked at), but if you ask me, I’m not too concerned about it,” George conveyed to local press.
The 76ers have been careful with their key players during the preseason, having chosen to sideline center Joel Embiid for the duration of the preseason due to similar precautions related to his left knee.
After signing George to a lucrative four-year contract worth $212 million as a free agent this summer, the 76ers bring him in as their fourth team in his career. His previous teams include seven years with the Indiana Pacers, two seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the last five years with the Los Angeles Clippers. Over his 14-year NBA journey, he has been named to the All-NBA team six times and averages 20.8 points per game.
With George joining forces alongside the 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and the All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers are anticipated to have one of the most powerful trios in the league as they aim to establish a competitive roster against the NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.
Last season marked a comeback for George, where he participated in 76 games—his first time playing more than 56 games since the 2018-19 season.