PHILADELPHIA — Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers has been suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program, the league announced Saturday.<\/p>\n
The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance that was involved, and George released a statement to ESPN saying he took something that was \u201cimproper.”<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past few years, I\u2019ve 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,” George said in the statement released to the network.<\/p>\n
He apologized to the team and its fans, saying he takes \u201cfull responsibility for my actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 25-game suspension, by terms of the agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, indicates that this was a first violation by George. He will begin serving the suspension Saturday when Philadelphia plays host to New Orleans.<\/p>\n
The suspension will cost George \u2014 a nine-time All-Star \u2014 roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, or about $469,691.72 for each of the 25 games missed. Some of that forfeited money will turn into a credit and put Philadelphia closer to getting out of the luxury tax; the 76ers would be about $1.3 million over that line when factoring in the money George isn’t getting.<\/p>\n
George is expected to be eligible to return on March 25, when Philadelphia plays host to Chicago. The 76ers will have 10 games remaining in the regular season at that point.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia entered Saturday at 26-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are 16-11 when George plays, 10-10 when he does not.<\/p>\n
George has averaged 16 points in 27 games this season for the Sixers, that scoring average third-most on the team behind Tyrese Maxey (29.4) and Joel Embiid (25.7). He had one of his best games of the season earlier this week, a 32-point outburst fueled by nine 3-pointers in a win over Milwaukee on Tuesday.<\/p>\n