Everybody knows what Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George can bring to the table when he is fully healthy. He has a handle on the ball and the size to get to his spots and rise up over defenders which makes life easier for him on the offensive end to get himself going and then he’s tough to stop when he finds that rhythm.
However, the 2024-25 season was a miserable one for him. Battling through a variety of injuries, George was limited to only 41 games in his first season in Philadelphia and saw his numbers drop across the board as he had struggles getting and staying on the floor. It was certainly a rough first year of a 4-year $212 million deal he signed in the 2024 offseason.
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ESPN released the first half of their top 100 players in the NBA and George saw a big tumble from being ranked No. 21 the previous season to No. 54 heading into the new season:
George’s first season in Philadelphia, after being the crown jewel of free agency, saw him play only 41 games as part of a truly depressing season (the only positive was the 76ers being able to keep their first-round draft pick). Now, George is recovering from a knee procedure in July that probably will cause him to sit out the start of the season.
Time will tell if George can return and get back to the same level he was before the injuries really took over, but the Sixers have to hope he can. He is a big part of everything they do and will need to play a big role next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as the Sixers look to bounce back in the coming season. Everybody knows how talented he is. It just comes down to him getting healthy and getting back after it.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers star Paul George sees big tumble in ESPN’s top 100 rankings