What doctors want to see before they give Paul George the go-ahead

The Philadelphia 76ersall things considered, they are off to a strong start to the 2025-26 season. They moved to 7-4 on the year after picking up another heart-pounding win over the Boston Celtics, 102-100, on Tuesday night. What makes this 7-4 start to the new campaign that much more impressive is that Joel Embiid is still limited by a minutes limit, and Paul George has yet to play a minute this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last offseason.

George was inching closer to making his season debut for the 76ers, but the team was very cautious with his knee given his injury history. Moreover, he is already 35 years old, so he has already suffered a lot of wear and tear in his career. He was due to be re-evaluated by doctors this weekend in preparation for a potential return, and the verdict appears to have been reached on what he needs to receive in order to play.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, “doctors want extra strength from his left quadriceps to support the knee” before they are cleaned The 76ers are progressing to return to action.

This indicates that George is simply strengthening and building strength in his legs just to avoid re-aggravating the knee problems he suffered last season in his first season with the 76ers.

George had a nightmare 2024-25 season on the injury front; he he hyperextended his knee during the preseason and he didn’t look good for much of that campaign as a result before the 76ers decided to shut him down, helping to keep their first-round pick (which then became VJ Edgecombe).

The 76ers are nearing full strength as Paul George nears his return

Many 76ers fans harbor frustration, and perhaps even resentment, toward George for his underachievement last season after signing a max contract with the team. But George, even in a scrapped state, will help improve their defense, and he would, at the very least, be another 3-and-D wing that can help space the floor and relieve Tyrese Maxey and Embiid of some very heavy shot-making duties.

The earliest George could return to action would be Friday, when the 76ers will play the Detroit Pistons in NBA Cup action.