The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a rough start to begin the 2024-25 NBA season. However, reinforcements are reportedly on the way. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, barring setbacks, Paul George will make his season debut on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George is expected to make his season debut on Monday vs. the Phoenix Suns, barring any setbacks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/n2nHUtaNNE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 4, 2024
George, who signed with the 76ers this past offseason, suffered a knee injury during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 14. Furthermore, big man Joel Embiid also has yet to make his season debut due to a knee injury.
Paul George Set to Make Philadelphia 76ers Debut On Monday
The 76ers’ Season So Far
Through the first five games of the season, all without George and Embiid, the 76ers are 1-4. Their only win came against the struggling Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging 29.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals, has been fantastic. However, the supporting cast around him is struggling. For context, Philadelphia’s next-best scorers are Kelly Oubre (18 PPG) and Caleb Martin (11.8 PPG).
As a team, the 76ers do not look great all-around either. This is reflected in their team stats. So far, the 76ers are averaging 107.2 points per game (fifth-worst in the NBA) and are allowing 116.4 points per game (11th-worst in the NBA). Furthermore, their -9.2 net rating is the second-worst in the league, only behind the winless Utah Jazz.
The 76ers are playing rough basketball, but nearly all of it is due to the lack of George and Embiid. With it still being unclear when Embiid will officially return to the court, the recent George development is huge for Philadelphia.
What Paul George Will Bring to Philadelphia
The Fresno State alum is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. He remains an elite scorer and is a fantastic defender. Furthermore, he will help the 76ers as they aim to be legitimate title contenders. George should take a lot of pressure off Embiid and Maxey and should also help them be more efficient as well. George’s presence will also help Philadelphia match up against some of the NBA’s best teams. Most notably, as an elite wing, George adds a new level to the 76ers that will help them in games against the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. It remains unclear how the 76ers will bounce back from their rough start. However, there is no denying how good they are on paper.
The Last Word
George is making his 76ers debut at a great time. The team is kicking off a three-game road trip tonight. This includes a game on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, George’s former team. Philadelphia must flip the script quickly if they want to enter the playoff picture and sit there comfortably for later in the season. George’s return is a start. Once Embiid comes back to the court as well, the 76ers will have the chance to prove to the NBA world they are truly title contenders.
