NBA slaps 25-game suspension on Paul George for anti-drug violation

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philadelphia 76ers are set to prepare for their toughest stretch of the NBA regular season after superstar forward Paul George was handed a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.

The shocking revelation was announced on Feb. 1, 2026, after the NBA front office confirmed that George will miss 25 consecutive scheduled games without pay.

George’s temporary ban will cost him approximately USD 11.7 million (PHP 689,305,500), or about USD 469,691.72 (PHP 27,676,573.53) in salary for each of the 25 missed games.

The league failed to disclose what substance George took to receive the penalty, but the nine-time NBA All-Star already addressed the issue, saying he made the mistake of accepting an improper medication.

In a statement to ESPN veteran NBA insider Shams Charania, George said the medicine was part of his ongoing treatment for a mental health issue.

“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health,” George said.

“In the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication. 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.”

Despite a rocky start to the 2025–26 NBA season, George had regained his stride, completing a bounce-back stretch after averaging 19 points over his last nine games for the 76ers.

George recently steered Philadelphia to a 139–122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 32 points on an efficient 11-of-21 shooting from the field.

In his most recent outing before the suspension, George’s all-around performance was instrumental in a win over the Sacramento Kings, where he filled the stat sheet with 15 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals.

George’s suspension began yesterday against the New Orleans Pelicans, and he is expected to return on March 26, 2026, against the Chicago Bulls.

“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 added.