Paul George is currently not playing because he has been suspended 25 games by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

Quick Scoop: Why Paul George Is Not Playing

  • The NBA announced that Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers received a 25-game suspension for breaching the league’s anti-drug program.
  • The league did not publicly specify the exact substance or violation details, only that it fell under the anti-drug policy.
  • George said in a statement that while seeking treatment for a personal issue, he used an “improper” medication and accepted full responsibility, apologizing to the team and fans.
  • He will start serving the suspension with the 76ers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans and is expected to be eligible to return around late March, with roughly 10 regular-season games left at that point.
  • Earlier in the season and last year, George also missed time due to left knee surgery and lingering knee and adductor issues, but those are not the current reason he is out; the present absence is specifically due to the league suspension.

Trend and fan discussion angle

  • The suspension has become a major talking point around the league and in fan forums because it affects both the Sixers’ playoff push and George’s already injury-interrupted tenure in Philadelphia.
  • Some coverage has noted that, financially, the Sixers actually gain some luxury-tax relief from the salary George forfeits during the suspension, which adds another layer to how the situation is viewed from a team-building and trade-deadline perspective.

In short, if you’re checking lineups or asking “why is Paul George not playing” right now, the answer is that he’s serving a 25-game league suspension, not sitting out for injury.

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