Paul George, the 15-year NBA veteran who is a nine-time All-Star, has not been an All-Star since 2023. His injury-prone history has spiraled his career down from an MVP-caliber talent to a role-playing third option on the 76ers.
In his first four years with the Clippers, he did not play more than sixty games in the regular season even once. When he finally did, he was traded to the 76ers, where he joined another injury-prone superstar, Joel Embiid.
Following his below-par first season with the 76ers, where he averaged only 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, NBA experts seem to have lost faith in his ability to play at a high level once again.
Former NBA champion Jeff Teague believes that George’s career is beyond repair, and the 76ers are no longer championship contenders despite three former All-Stars on their roster. He made his feelings on the 76ers clear during the Club 520 podcast’s latest episode.
“Play-in man,” predicted Teague for where the 76ers will end up in the 2025-26 season.
“Paul George is cooked, Paul George is cooked. PG is cooked bro… he’s one of the coldest players I have ever seen play basketball… He was a third option last year, bro… There’s a great chance he’s going to be hurt this year. Which is for real, cause how often is this n**** not hurt?”
“They’re going to be at full strength for the first game of the season, in game two, they’re going to be out…. Come on, y’all, they are done!”
Teague then turned his attention towards the former MVP Embiid.
“Joel Embiid isn’t going to return in the first game of the season. But when that first game he returns, he’s going to have 20 in the first game and sit out the next two. And then the next one he’ll go for 40, and then he’s going to be done.”
The 76ers were plagued with injuries in the 2024-25 season. None of their three potential All-Stars in Embiid (19), George (41), and Tyrese Maxey (52) played more than 60 games in the regular season. Subsequently, they landed the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and picked VJ Edgecombe.
Last season, the only bright spot for the 76ers was Tyrese Maxey, who has been improving every single season he has been on the team. He averaged 26.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game for the 2024-25 season and cemented himself as the future face of the franchise.
They also had a bright spark in Jared McCain to start the season. He was the Rookie of the Year favorite until his injury, as he averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in the first 23 games of the season.
The 76ers are in the process of forming a solid young core with Maxey, McCain, and potentially Edgecombe. But with their aging superstars in Embiid (31) and George (35) and their injury-prone history, do the 76ers really have any hope beyond the play-in?
I do not think so either. So I agree with Jeff Teague’s prediction that, at best, they are a play-in team next season.
