Report: George to make 76ers debut tonight

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The Philadelphia 76ers have opened 2024-25 with a 1-4 start as stars Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) and Paul George (left knee bone bruise) have been healing up.
George has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Suns (10:15 p.m. ET, NBA TV), and per ESPN’s Shams Charania, he’s expected to play barring any setbacks. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Sixers are hopeful George will suit up vs. Phoenix, but Embiid will remain sidelined.

 
George has yet to make his Sixers debut after he signed a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. The 34-year-old has a bone bruise but did not suffer any structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee during a preseason game.
He has averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists through 14 seasons, shooting 44% overall and 38.5% on 3-pointers. Last season, George posted 22.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.5 spg while shooting 47.1% overall and 41.3% on 3-pointers.
Embiid, who won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA, has been out with what the team calls left knee management. The 30-year-old did not play in the preseason. He was limited to 39 games last season, mostly because of knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State. He returned for the playoffs and was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy during a first-round loss to the Knicks.
Embiid signed a $193 million contract before training camp. The 76ers have failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs since 2001 — in large part because Embiid has failed to stay healthy.
The Sixers finished 31-8 last season with Embiid and 16-27 without him.
Embiid revealed ahead of training camp that he dropped about 25 to 30 pounds to stay in better condition for the season’s grind. That includes not rushing back from any further issues with the knee.
With six All-NBA honors and four All-Defensive nods, George is expected to slot cleanly alongside Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey, providing a key boost in their quest to emerge in the East.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.