Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George sustained a left knee hyperextension in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the 76ers announced. George will likely have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
George, 34, saw his knee buckle with 8:17 remaining in the second quarter while defending forward Jalen Johnson’s spin move. George stayed down in the paint as Philadelphia went the other way and walked gingerly to the bench during the next stoppage in play.
The 76ers later ruled him out for the second half of the game.
Philadelphia signed George, a nine-time All-Star, to a four-year, $212 million contract in July. George spent the previous five seasons with the LA Clippers, where he averaged 23 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 39.7 percent from 3.
The Clippers reached the playoffs in four of George’s five years with the team.
What this could mean for the 76ers
The severity of George’s hyperextended knee likely won’t be known until Tuesday. But even if the star forward escapes major injury, it encapsulates the risk involved when Philadelphia’s front office put him and Joel Embiid together as a core. For as talented as Embiid and George are, and for as dynamic a duo as they have a chance to be, durability has to be a significant concern. The Sixers revealed Sunday that Embiid will miss the rest of the preseason for left knee maintenance. Philadelphia opens the season on Oct. 23 against Milwaukee.
Even if George escapes major injury, this likely keeps him out for the final two preseason games. That puts Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre in more spots to make plays for themselves and others. It puts more of a scoring onus on star guard Tyrese Maxey, and it could catapult rookie guard Jared McCain into the immediate rotation. — Tony Jones, senior NBA writer
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