Paul George is set to return to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls after serving a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test. He apologized Tuesday for the impact on his team's momentum and said he is ready to take on a larger role. The 76ers have struggled with multiple injuries during his absence.
Paul George last played for the Philadelphia 76ers when the team held a 26-21 record and appeared poised for a playoff return. His suspension disrupted that momentum, but the 76ers managed a 13-12 record without him, slipping to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings as of Tuesday. George addressed reporters after practice, expressing regret over the failed drug test linked to a substance he took for mental health reasons, which he declined to name specifically. He took responsibility for the 'devastation' to the team's progress and thanked his teammates for their support. 'I feel like I'm back on that level of being able to perform and be the focal guy and be a scorer,' George said. He added that challenges with his body had affected his mental state, but now, 'my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I'm capable of doing what I can do.' The suspension allowed George to recover from a knee injury that had bothered him earlier in the season. In his first 27 games, the 35-year-old averaged 16 points per game—his lowest in a healthy season since 2011-12—while contributing on defense and from three-point range. Philadelphia faces heightened pressure with key absences: Tyrese Maxey sidelined by a right pinkie tendon injury, Joel Embiid out nearly a month with an oblique strain but now listed as questionable, and Kelly Oubre Jr. dealing with an elbow sprain. Daryl Morey's midseason trade of young guard Jared McCain to Oklahoma City has drawn scrutiny, as McCain has thrived there. George's return offers a chance to bolster the lineup amid critical late-season games.