Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has provided an update on his hyper-extended knee injury suffered during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. Speaking on his podcast, “Podcast P with Paul George” presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, George detailed how the injury occurred and offered insight into his recovery process.
The injury happened during what George described as a routine play. He explained that after poking the ball loose from an opponent, his knee unexpectedly locked up as he tried to push off. “My leg just kind of got stuck,” George said. “I went to go push off, all my momentum was going forward, and my leg caused my knee to go inwards.”
George immediately felt that something was wrong but reassured fans that the injury was not as severe as the one he experienced while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. “It was similar to the bone-on-bone contact I had in LA, but not as severe,” he added. Despite the initial concern, George remains optimistic about his recovery.
The Sixers star confirmed that there was no damage to his ligaments or tendons, which lessened the severity of the injury. Instead, the hyper-extension led to bone bruising. “It wasn’t nothing major or no concern,” George stated. “I didn’t damage a ligament, I didn’t damage a tendon. It was literally just bone-on-bone bruising from a hyperextension.”
George emphasized that his knee feels stable and he’s undergoing therapy to ensure everything checks out. While he didn’t give an exact return date, he expressed confidence that he will be back on the court soon. “I should be back hopefully sooner than later, but it won’t be a long timetable I would imagine,” he said.
This is not the first time George has dealt with significant injuries in his career. However, his determination and positive outlook have helped him recover quickly in the past, and he seems prepared to follow a similar path this time. He assured listeners that he’ll return “strong and better than ever.”
The 76ers, who signed George this offseason, are closely monitoring his progress. George was expected to play a key role for the team, and his absence in the early part of the season could impact their performance. However, George’s optimistic outlook should give Sixers fans hope for his return in the near future.
Last season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33.8 minutes per game for the Clippers.
