Will the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star be ready for the season opener?

The $212 million Philadelphia 76ers player appears to have dodged a bullet after hyperextending his left knee during Monday night’s preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Paul George has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee and will be re-evaluated next Tuesday – a day before the Sixers’ season opener at home against the Milwaukee Bucks. More importantly, George suffered no structural damage.

Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise and no structural damage to his left knee and will be reevaluated in about a week, according to the team. pic.twitter.com/1Jhuuig17X

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 15, 2024

The injury caused great shock. George’s left knee appeared to buckle while he was guarding Hawks small forward Jalen Johnson.

See also: VIDEO: The Philadelphia 76ers’ title hopes are already in jeopardy after Paul George’s nasty injury

George was able to carefully move away from the field and did not play in the second half.

After the game, George didn’t seem too concerned about what happened.

“Of course I’m in a new organization. I’m trying to build,” George told Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’re dealing with so many growing pains, and [only] so much time to learn and try to figure each other out. … That’s the way it is [stinks]. It’s unfortunate.

“But again, looking forward, I’m not too worried about what this injury will be. It will only take a little while.”

Paul George has hyperextended his left knee, per @ginamizell

Prayers 🙏

pic.twitter.com/soUSoKbqaV

– NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 15, 2024

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse also expressed optimism about George after practice on Tuesday.

“PG was here today,” Nurse told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “He had it looked at again. Everything was fine. They will take more pictures this afternoon to see if there is anything else. He is in good spirits.

“…But for now it’s fine. We’ll see what happens with imaging.”

Paul George’s injury history

George’s injury history didn’t stop the Sixers from giving the 34-year-old a four-year, $212 million contract. The franchise hopes George is the final piece of the puzzle to help the Sixers win their first championship since 1983.

During his five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers before signing with the Sixers, George played in 263 games, an average of just 52 games per season. George started 74 games in 2023-24, the most he has played since 2018-19, when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

ESPN previously reported that the Sixers would be mindful of George’s workload throughout the season, with general manager Daryl Morey saying he doesn’t expect George – or oft-injured superstar Joel Embiid – to play in many consecutive games.

Embiid will not play in any preseason games as he continues to increase his activity after a left knee injury limited him to 39 regular-season games last year.

It remains to be seen whether both George and Embiid will be ready for the season opener on October 23 against the Bucks.

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