The NBA suspended Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George for 25 games in January for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
George, who will play against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday (3/25), told reporters that mental health struggles led him to take the banned substance.
“To let people down hurt more than kind of anything,” George said, via ESPN. “The most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be or where it once was. That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited.
“But for me, I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do and what I’ve been able to on the court for years. Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you. My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be. The expectations to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be, obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself. That’s what led to a poor decision at the time. I’ve said it throughout my career, dealing with mental health, I’m no superhero. I’m human and I made a mistake in that moment.”
The suspension cost George roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary for this season. George signed a lucrative four-year, $211 million contract with the 76ers in the summer of 2024.
George is averaging 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season while shooting 42.4% from the field, 38.2% from beyond the arc and 85.5% from the free-throw line.
Philadelphia is 39-33, which is good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. George will look to help the 76ers secure a top-six seed so they don’t have to participate in the NBA play-in tournament.
A nine-time All-Star, George has played for the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and 76ers. He holds career averages of 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The swingman was the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Latest NBA News & Rumors
- Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Kawhi Leonard Back To Toronto Raptors In Stunning Offseason Twist
- Houston Rockets Linked To Aggressive Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Pursuit This Offseason
- Report: Billy Donovan Could Step Away From Chicago Bulls After Emotional, Turbulent Year
- Doc Rivers On Milwaukee Bucks Waiving Cam Thomas: ‘There Are Things That We Don’t Need To Talk About’
