The health of Joel Embiid and now Paul George lingers over a 76ers team with high expectations and high anxiety on the cusp of the regular season.
Paul George hyperextended his knee in a preseason game Monday night. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Paul George’s hyperextended knee “checks out OK,” Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday while noting that the team was waiting for further imaging.
Later Tuesday, the 76ers announced that an MRI revealed a bone bruise and no structural damage. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately one week, putting his availability for Philadelphia’s season opener in doubt. The 76ers are scheduled to open their season on Oct. 23 at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 76ers provided the updates a day after George hyperextended his knee in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. George’s knee bent awkwardly when he planted his foot in the first half, and he did not return to play in the second half.
The initial postgame diagnosis was a hyperextension, a vague descriptor that could include a wide range of injury outcomes. After the game, George told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he’s “not too concerned” about the injury.
“I’m not too concerned going forward of what this injury is,” George said. “It’ll just be a little time.”
On Tuesday, Nurse told reporters that George’s knee is “OK,” per preliminary evaluation prior to George’s MRI.
“PG was here today,” Nurse said. “Got it looked at again. Everything checked out OK. They are gonna do some further imaging this afternoon to see if there’s anything else.”
Nurse added that George was in good spirits.
George, a nine-time All-Star, arrived in Philadelphia via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers in the most significant transaction of the NBA offseason. He signed a four-year, $212 million max contract with the 76ers as part of the deal.
The 76ers acquired George to play alongside fellow All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in an effort to compete for an NBA championship. The 76ers have made the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons, but didn’t advance past the second round in any of those years.
With Embiid injured (knee) for most of the second half of last season, the 76ers fell to the No. 7 seed. He returned in time for the playoffs, where Philadelphia lost in six games in the first round to the No. 2 seed New York Knicks.
Embiid is not participating in preseason games. The team offered a vague update on his health status on Sunday.
“As part of his left knee management, Joel Embiid was assessed by doctors on Thursday,” a team statement read. “Embiid is progressing well and will continue to take part in an individual treatment plan designed to best support his health and wellness for the 2024-25 season.
“He will not play in this week’s preseason games. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
