ATLANTA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers’ highly regarded free-agent signing, Paul George, exited Monday’s preseason match against Atlanta due to a hyperextended left knee.
No immediate information has been released regarding the duration of George’s absence. The nine-time All-Star’s injury occurred during a defensive play in the second quarter, where he managed to contribute eight points in 12 minutes as the 76ers secured a 104-89 victory.
“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 shared with The Philadelphia Inquirer.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that the 34-year-old would undergo examination on Tuesday.
“You never want anything to happen to anybody,” Nurse noted. “Certainly, just kind of trying to work him into things. He wants to work into things, too. This doesn’t give us a chance to do that. Hopefully, it’ll be OK so he’s back with us right away.”
The Sixers have approached their star players with caution, recently sidelining center Joel Embiid for the remainder of the preseason due to “left knee management.”
Having signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract this summer, the 76ers expect him to significantly bolster their roster. George, who has previously played for Indiana, Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Clippers, has a storied career as a six-time All-NBA selection, averaging 20.8 points over his first 14 NBA seasons.
With George joining 2023 NBA MVP Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were believed to form a formidable trio as they aim to rival the NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Last season, George appeared in 76 games, marking the first time since the 2018-19 season that he played in more than 56 games.
However, the Sixers do not anticipate George and Embiid to exceed 75 games in the regular season. Embiid has struggled with injuries during the playoffs in the past, contributing to the team’s postseason challenges and impacting his legacy. If the Sixers cannot maintain the health of both George and Embiid by April, they may face another disappointing season.
In his preseason debut against Minnesota last week, George scored a team-high 23 points, making 8 of 15 shot attempts.