Paul George Isn't Ready for 76ers Yet With Hornets in Town

Paul George has been ruled out against the Hornets.

Feb 12, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Paul George remains in practice action for the Philadelphia 76ers, but gameplay is still out of the question.

The veteran sharpshooter, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the summertime, underwent a minor procedure ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season.

While George was able to make it back out on the practice court as a full participant ahead of the Sixers’ opener against the Boston Celtics, the team made it clear that his chances of playing in the first game were slim.

At this point, it’s confirmed that George won’t be on the floor for the team’s Saturday night matchup against the Charlotte Hornets in South Philly.

Paul George (knee) listed out for Saturday.

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) October 24, 2025

Paul George’s first season with the Sixers wasn’t inspiring. He missed a large chunk of the preseason due to a knee injury and needed five games off to recover before making his debut.

George was in and out of the lineup throughout the year, and he was shut down for good after a March 4 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. At that point, George was battling through multiple injuries, and the Sixers’ season was clearly off the rails.

The nine-time All-Star forward finished the year with just 41 appearances on the Sixers. During the year, he averaged 16.2 points while shooting 43 percent from the field and knocking down 35 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

He also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

Mar 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Being 35 with a handful of injuries throughout his first season with the Sixers, many were skeptical about what George could bring to the table in his second season with the team. Clearly aware of his contract numbers, George is looking to earn his salary in year two.

It wasn’t long ago when George put together an All-Star campaign by producing 22.6 points per game, along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He was an All-Star for the second-straight season during the 2023-2024 run with the Los Angeles Clippers.

That year, George remained on several teams’ radar as a potential max-contracted addition. The Sixers won that sweepstakes, but so far, the investment hasn’t paid off.

After the Sixers take on the Hornets on Saturday night, they’ll remain set in South Philly to face the Orlando Magic on Monday. That will be the start of a back-to-back set, which concludes on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards on the road.

So far, the Sixers don’t have a timeline in place for George. As he’s practicing, they seem to be taking it day by day, seeing what kind of shape he’s in and how his body reacts to the ramp-up phase.