Will Paul George need time to ramp up once returning from his suspension? Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse provides the answer.
The Philadelphia 76ers (37-31) went undefeated this weekend despite their 'Big Three' of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid being sidelined.
Still, the 76ers are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, closely trailing the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic in the standings. To avoid the Play-In Tournament, Philadelphia needs its stars to return to the floor as soon as possible.
Thankfully, George's 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy is winding down. He will only miss four more games against the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and Oklahoma City Thunder before coming back on March 25 at home against the Chicago Bulls.
76ers coach Nick Nurse provided an update on George prior to their win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
"Nick Nurse says that there is no ramp-up period expected for Paul George. Once he's cleared from his suspension, he'll be ready to go," Austin Krell posted to X.
Although the statistics don't make it obvious, George is integral to the 76ers' success. His defensive prowess and secondary scoring are crucial. He, along with V.J. Edgecombe, is the best complementary piece the 76ers have for the superstar duo of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
His numbers are rather underwhelming, averaging 16.0 points on 42.4% shooting, but don't let that distract you from the impact he has when on the floor.
Here's a look at the statement George made to ESPN back in late January regarding his suspension:
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," George said. "I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process."
“I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return," George concluded.
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