NBA Suspends Paul George 25 Games for Anti-Drug Violation
NBA suspends Paul George 25 games and says the penalty will cost him about $11.7 million in lost salary.
Overview
The National Basketball Association suspended Paul George, a Philadelphia 76ers forward, for 25 games for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program, the league announced Saturday.
The 25-game penalty indicates a first violation under the agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association and will begin with Saturday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the league said.
Paul George said in a statement to ESPN that he "made the mistake of taking an improper medication" while seeking treatment for a personal issue and apologized to the Sixers organization and fans.
The suspension will cost Paul George roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, about $469,691.72 per missed game, and comes as the 76ers are 26-21 and sixth in the Eastern Conference, records show.
George is expected to be eligible to return on March 25, 2026, when the 76ers will have 10 regular-season games remaining, and the suspension could affect Philadelphia’s plans ahead of the Feb. 5, 2026 trade deadline, analysts say.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame George’s suspension as part of a worsening career arc, using evaluative language and selective context. They highlight losses — “one of the worst years,” salary forfeiture and team playoff impact — while treating George’s apology and treatment-seeking as source content rather than editorial endorsement, omitting substance details.
Sources (7)
FAQ
A first violation typically results in a 25-game suspension, as indicated by Paul George's penalty.
Paul George stated he made the mistake of taking an improper medication while seeking treatment for a personal issue.
The 25-game suspension will cost Paul George approximately $11.7 million in lost salary, based on $469,691.72 per missed game from his $51.7 million salary.
Paul George is expected to be eligible to return on March 25, 2026, when the 76ers will have 10 regular-season games remaining, potentially affecting plans ahead of the February 5, 2026 trade deadline.
Prohibited substances include drugs of abuse such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium), cocaine, opiates (e.g., oxycodone), methamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and others, with specific confirmatory laboratory analysis levels.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.