Paul George was suspended 25 games by the NBA for violating the league’s Anti- Drug Program; he says it stemmed from taking an “improper medication” while seeking treatment for a personal mental-health issue.

Why did Paul George get suspended?

  • The NBA announced that Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers violated the league’s Anti-Drug Program, which triggered an automatic 25-game suspension without pay.
  • The league has not publicly disclosed which substance or specific violation was involved, only that it fell under the anti-drug rules.
  • In his own statement, George said that while getting treatment for a personal mental-health issue, he took an “improper medication” that broke the policy, and he accepted full responsibility.

Key facts and latest news

  • Length of suspension: 25 games, starting with the 76ers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans, with eligibility to return around March 25, 2026, vs. the Chicago Bulls.
  • Financial impact: He will forfeit roughly 11.7 million dollars of his roughly 51.7 million dollar salary for the season, about 469,000 dollars per missed game.
  • Team impact: Philadelphia was 26–21 at the time of the announcement and will be without one of its main forwards during a critical part of the regular season.

How fans and forums are reacting

Online discussions and forums are split into a few main viewpoints:

  1. Some fans say the punishment feels harsh if it was connected to legitimate mental-health treatment, even if the medication technically violated the rules.
  1. Others argue that every player knows the anti-drug policy and that a 25-game ban is consistent with a first offense, so the league is just enforcing its standards.
  1. A lot of 76ers fans are mostly focused on what this means for the team’s playoff push and are debating how much this hurts their seeding and chemistry.

“Over the past few years, I've discussed the importance of mental health… I made the mistake of taking an improper medication. I take full responsibility for my actions.” – Paul George’s statement.

Quick timeline

  1. Late January 2026 – Reports emerge that the NBA is reviewing an anti-drug matter involving Paul George.
  1. January 30–31, 2026 – The league officially announces a 25-game suspension without pay for violating the Anti-Drug Program.
  1. Same weekend – George releases a public statement referencing mental health treatment and “improper medication,” apologizing to the 76ers and fans.
  1. Projected late March 2026 – He becomes eligible to return with about 10 regular-season games left.

SEO-style meta note

  • Focus keyword: why did Paul George get suspended – Answer: for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program after taking an “improper medication” during treatment, resulting in a 25-game ban and significant salary loss.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.