After a disappointing debut 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers marred by injury, aging nine-time All-Star Philadelphia small forward Paul George had an arthroscopic left knee surgery to treat a workout injury over the summer.
MORE: 76ers’ Nick Nurse reveals Paul George's status for opening night
Following a team practice earlier this week, George's head coach Nick Nurse revealed how close the $211.6 million star is to making his return to the court. The regular season tips off on Wednesday for Philadelphia.
The 6-foot-8 Fresno State product may have definitively regressed to another stage of his career, following an elite prime while with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and LA Clippers.
Paul George's underwhelming first Philadelphia season
In just 41 healthy games last year, the 35-year-old averaged 16.2 points on .430/.358/.814 shooting splits, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per bout.
George has missed the entire preseason while recovering from the scope. He has yet to take live contact.
"He’s progressed a little further since the last time I saw you guys," Nurse said Tuesday, per Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. "He was in the practice today again for the introductory parts. He keeps inching a little further again. Just waiting for guys like him and [Trendon] Watford to be cleared for some more contact — and then for full contact. So he was out there in a similar capacity to what he’s been."
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Philadelphia has accrued some intriguing young perimeter chips in recent seasons, even as their injury-prone, expensive frontcourt All-Star tandem of George and Joel Embiid appears to be aging out.
The No. 3 pick in this year's draft, former Baylor Bears guard V.J. Edgecombe, will be joining a backcourt that also includes All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, intriguing young guard Quentin Grimes, and second-year combo guard Jared McCain. Everyone has room to develop further: the oldest player among this quartet is the 25-year-old Grimes, who put up career numbers after being acquired in a deadline trade last season.
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