Tyrese Maxey is standing by Paul George after his 25-game suspension

Just when things threatened to improve Philadelphia 76ersthat recently brought big man Joel Embiid back into the fold, a major update has come out. Paul George’s 25 game ban delivered significant downtime.

The NBA made the announcement on Saturday George was suspended for violating the league’s anti-drug policya decision that will sideline the nine-time All-Star until March 25 and remove him from nearly all of Philadelphia’s playoff contention. however, Tyrese McKay stands firmly behind his teammate.

Tyrese Maxey on Paul George: “First of all, we stand by Paul. We appreciate him.”

When the news broke, Maxey reached out to Jared McCain, Trendon Watford and Justin Edwards to tell them they needed to be ready (and he knew not to give that message to Kelly Oubre Jr.)

— Adam Aronson (@SikersAdam) February 1, 2026

“First of all, we stand by Paul. We appreciate him,” he said when asked about the suspension, according to a video posted by the Sixers on X beat writer Adam Aaronson.

The suspension is effective immediately and has both competitive and financial consequences. George is set to forfeit about $11.7 million in salary, or roughly $469,700 per game, during the ban. Although the league did not disclose the specific substance in question,

George later clarified that the positive test stemmed from inappropriate medication taken while seeking treatment for mental health issues.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decisions during this process. I am focused on using this time to make sure my mind and body are in the best shape to help the team when I return.” he said about the suspension, according to OnPattinson.

On the field, George’s absence creates a significant void. In 27 games this season, the 35-year-old is averaging 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in just over 30 minutes per game.

Philadelphia’s performance metrics underscore his impact: The Sixers have a +4.7 net rating with George on the floor, compared to a -1.9 rating when he’s off. Philadelphia now faces a familiar challenge.

George already missed 20 games earlier in the season due to injury, and the suspension now adds further problems to a roster that has already struggled this campaign.