Paul George officially returns after clearing the NBA’s 25-game suspension

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

PG13 is back.

After undergoing a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, Paul George is ready to make up for lost time, immediately making an impact in his first game back for the Philadelphia 76ers on March 26, 2026.

The superstar small forward returned as if he never left, dropping 28 big points while steering Philadelphia to a dominant 157–137 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Despite missing almost two months of NBA action, George was reinserted into the starting lineup alongside Joel Embiid, who was also sidelined for a long period due to a strained right oblique injury.

Bolstered by the return of the 1–2 punch, the 76ers quickly went off to the races and built a 12-point cushion, 38–26, led by George, who knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and a couple of perimeter fadeaway jumpers.

The stroke was still there.

After two months of inactivity, George showcased his deep offensive bag, which the thousands of Philly fans missed, alongside Embiid’s paint dominance that ballooned the 76ers’ lead to 19 points at the half.

All hell broke loose in the third when the 76ers unleashed an early 51–32 exclamation point, led by George, who dropped 11 points in just four minutes.

With the game getting out of hand after Philadelphia established its biggest lead of the game at as much as 47 points, the Chicago coaching staff didn’t think twice and pulled all of its starters when the final frame began.

“It’s amazing to be back,” said George after the 76ers’ win.

“It was a sigh of relief. The crowd, fueling me, the energy. My teammates, the bench, the coaches. It just felt good to play basketball again. Happy and excited, it was a long 25-game absence.”

Flashback to Feb. 1, 2026, George shocked the whole basketball world when he was slapped with a suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.

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.”