Paul George was suspended because he violated the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, leading the league to issue a 25-game ban without pay.

What exactly happened?

  • The NBA announced that Paul George, now with the Philadelphia 76ers, was suspended 25 games for breaching the leagueā€™s anti-drug policy.
  • The league did not publicly specify which substance or exact medication triggered the violation.
  • In a statement, George said he was seeking treatment for a personal mental-health related issue and admitted he took an ā€œimproperā€ or unauthorized medication that violated the policy.

ā€œI made the mistake of taking an improper medicationā€¦ I take full responsibility for my actions.ā€ ā€” summarized from Georgeā€™s public statement.

How long is the suspension and when does it start?

  • Length: 25 games, without pay.
  • Start: It begins with the 76ersā€™ game against the New Orleans Pelicans, announced on January 31, 2026.
  • Expected return: He is projected to be eligible to play again in late March 2026, with about 10 regular-season games left.

Financial and team impact

  • George will lose roughly 11ā€“12 million dollars in salary during the suspension, based on his approximately 51ā€“52 million dollar annual pay.
  • Because that money is forfeited, it slightly eases the 76ersā€™ luxury-tax situation, bringing them closer to getting under the tax line.
  • On the court, the 76ers have been significantly better with George active than without him, so the ban hits both their depth and their playoff seeding hopes.

How people are talking about it (latest news + forums)

  • Mainstream coverage focuses on three angles: the anti-drug policy violation, the mental-health context George mentioned, and the blow to the 76ersā€™ season.
  • Many fan discussions online revolve around:
    • Whether the NBAā€™s anti-drug penalties are too strict or appropriately enforced.
* Sympathy for Georgeā€™s mental-health explanation vs. criticism that he and his teamā€™s medical staff should have checked the medication more carefully.

* Speculation that, while the 76ers are hurt short term, the tax relief and chance to re-tool lineups could help them around the trade deadline.

Mini FAQ

  1. Did he fail a specific drug test for something like PEDs?
    • Publicly, the NBA only said he violated the Anti-Drug Program and did not name the substance.
  1. Was this a repeat offense?
    • The 25-game length is consistent with what is being reported as a first offense under the program.
  1. Did Paul George deny doing anything wrong?
    • No. He acknowledged the violation, apologized to the team and fans, and said he accepts full responsibility.

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