Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George was slapped a suspension by the league on Saturday for 25 games for ignoring the league's Anti-drug program. The nine-time NBA All-Star will become eligible to come back on March 25, when the Sixers face the Chicago Bulls.
How much money will Paul George lose during the suspension?
As per the League, he will be suspended without pay. It will cost him around @11.7 million of his $51.7 million for the season, which is about $469,691 per game missed. The 76ers will get a tax variance credited of $5,871,174 and can sign an additional player once he is on the suspension list, following the fifth game.
George shared a statement via ESPN's Shams Charania.
“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 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,” he added.
George dealt with a string of health issues that changed his first season in Philadelphia into a nightmare. He has had persistent trouble in his left knee and had an arthroscopic procedure to address the injury picked up during a workout.
Along with the knee problems, PG also faced groin problems and an adductor injury. Furthermore, over the season, there were reports of hyperextended knees, a bone bruise from knee hyperextension in the preseason, plus other minor injuries.
Next step for Paul George after the drug policy violation suspension
Paul George's suspension comes at a time when the Sixers find themselves on the back of two back-to-back wins. He shone in the team's 139-122 home win against the Milwaukee Bucks, registering a game-high 32 points, alongside five rebounds and assists.
He will be back with 10 regular-season games left for the Sixers. His suspension has put pressure on the organization to take a call if they need to add pieces or reshape the squad to avoid slipping out of the postseason places.