Injuries Continue to Keep Paul George’s Season from Taking Off. Tyrese Maxey: ‘You Feel Bad for Him’
CHICAGO — Paul George’s inaugural season with the 76ers has been marred by numerous injuries, and recent events do not suggest relief is on the horizon.
This situation is a far cry from what both the nine-time All-Star and the Sixers envisioned when George signed a massive four-year, $211.5 million free-agent contract in July.
In a disappointing turn of events, George injured his left pinkie finger by jamming it during the first half of the game against the Chicago Bulls. This incident occurred during the 76ers’ 109-97 victory at the United Center. The forward, who did not play in the second half, was set to undergo an MRI the following day.
At 34 years old, George has already missed 14 games this season due to various ailments, including separate left knee hyperextensions, bone bruises, left groin tightness, and load management issues.
Adding to the frustration, George’s latest injury followed a strong performance where he scored a team-high 30 points in a previous game against the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. This marked the third time this season the 15-year veteran has reached the 30-point threshold.
Tyrese Maxey voiced his sympathy for George, stating, “You feel bad for him, especially because now you think he’s finding his rhythm, kind of finding his niche where he fits in with the offense with Joe [Joel Embiid] and without Joe. And that kind of sucks. … Praying for him. And you know, I don’t really know what happened yet. So whatever it is, I’ll see and just pray for him.”
Despite the setbacks, George is currently averaging 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. His shooting percentage stands at 42.9% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. Notably, he has averaged 21.0 points on an impressive 48.0% shooting percentage, including 46.7% from three-point range, over his last six games.
Following Friday’s game, George expressed his feelings about his ongoing adjustment with Maxey. He stated, “I feel better and better as the games come along. It just comes down to games played, to be honest … starting to find a rhythm and just understanding of each other, and I think that’s kind of where we’ve gotten to.”
Unfortunately, George has faced challenges in finding his offensive groove during the 13 games that Embiid has played this season. During these contests, he has averaged just 14.1 points on 38.3% shooting, hitting only 25 of 83 three-pointers for a dismal 30.1% success rate.
In related news, second-year forward Ricky Council IV was assigned to the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, who were set to face the Greensboro Swarm at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington. Council has averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 14.3 minutes in 63 appearances with the Sixers this season.
