76ers' Paul George Injures Knee in Workout, Undergoes Arthroscopic Surgery

So much for Daryl Morey being “optimistic” about Paul George’s health heading into the season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

So much for Daryl Morey being “optimistic” about Paul George’s health heading into the season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Philadelphia 76ers forward suffered an injury during a recent workout and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

“George will now begin a rehab program and be re-evaluated prior to start of training camp,” notes Charania.

It’s not news the 76ers need as they look to get George back healthy after signing him to a max four-year, $212 million deal last offseason. He was limited to just 41 games and shut down in March last season due to adductor and knee injuries — the same left knee he had a procedure on.

George averaged just 16.2 points per game — his lowest since his second season in the league — while shooting 43% from the field and 35.8% from three.

This comes on the heels of The Athletic’s Tony Jones reporting that Joel Embiid has yet to return to full on-court basketball activities after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in April. The former NBA MVP appeared in only 19 games last season.

With Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey missing a combined 134 games last season, they finished 24-58 and ended up with the third overall pick in the draft where they selected Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe.

Interestingly, Morey, the 76ers’ president of basketball operations, met with the media in Las Vegas last Friday and didn’t mention anything about George’s latest injury. Morey did tell reporters that the team needs the Big 3 of Embiid, George and Maxey to be healthy if they are going to be successful.

“I don’t think we can do it without that,” Morey said, via The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Gina Mizell. “I would like to say that, but I don’t see it. So, yeah, I do think we’re very dependent on all those guys, including Joel.”

George has failed to play in 60 games in five of the last six seasons. He’s now entering the second year of his deal that will pay him $51.66 million this upcoming season.

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Category: General Sports