Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has been suspended for 25 games by the NBA for violating the league's Anti-Drug Program, the league announced on Saturday. The suspension, which is a first offense under the NBA/NBPA agreement, will cost George approximately $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, amounting to roughly $469,691.72 per game missed.
George, a nine-time All-Star, is expected to return on March 25 when the 76ers host the Chicago Bulls. The team currently sits at 26-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are 16-11 when George plays and 10-10 when he does not. George has averaged 16 points per game this season, ranking third on the team behind Tyrese Maxey (29.4) and Joel Embiid (25.7).
In a statement to ESPN, George acknowledged taking an improper medication while seeking treatment for a personal issue. "Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," he said. "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. 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."
The NBA did not disclose the specific substance involved in the violation. The suspension comes as the 76ers aim to solidify their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. George had one of his best performances of the season earlier this week, scoring 32 points on nine 3-pointers in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.