Paul George’s injury-riddled first season with the 76ers is coming to an end early.
The forward was ruled out for the rest of the regular season after he was given injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee on Monday, the 76ers announced.
Philadelphia’s announcement stated that George would be sidelined for at least six weeks, which essentially took him off the court for the remainder of the season with Philadelphia unlikely to make it to the postseason.
George has been limited to 41 games this season after dealing with several different ailments over the course of the year, the latest being a groin soreness issue that has kept him out of the 76ers’ last four games.
”Among a lot of players, he falls in the category of a tough season, injury-wise … and now this,” 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “My biggest thing is we are where we are with it and with all of the other guys, too, as I mentioned the other night. [It is] just getting them fixed up first, and then healed up and back to being able to get working at their craft again, and physically back to 100 percent.”
George had spent the previous five seasons with the Clippers before he signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers in July.
In 41 games, George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
In the 76ers statement Monday, the organization said George had been consulting with specialists and had been given the injections as part of his treatment plan.
George had stepped away from his popular podcast, “Podcast P with Paul George,” to focus on the season and his health earlier this year.
“I haven’t been the healthiest, so it’s just been putting a ton of work towards getting my body as healthy as possible, and to keep focus of obviously being here and trying to turn things around here and the full focus is trying to get this team together,” George said about the decision.
George’s injury issues go back to the beginning of the season when he suffered a hyperextended left knee in the preseason and forced him to miss five games at the start of the regular season.
He hyperextended it again in November, which led to him missing three games and he injured his left pinkie in January.
The 76ers (23-44) have been debilitated by injuries this season, with Joel Embiid out for the rest of the season.
