Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George is set to return from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, but he made it clear that his decision stems from deeper struggles related to injury and mental health.
“It hurts more than anything to let people down,” George said.
George apologized to his teammates, fans and family while also revealing the circumstances behind the failed test.
“The hardest thing is when your body isn't where you know it needs to be or where it used to be,” George said from the team's facility in Camden, New Jersey. “It causes mental issues because you know you're limited. But for me, I feel good, my body feels good. Mentally, I know I'm capable of doing what I can do and what I've been able to do on the field for so many years.”
The 35-year-old's first season in Philadelphia didn't go as planned. Knee and adductor injuries limited him to just 27 games, and offseason surgery kept him out of the first 12 games entirely. George admitted that physical setbacks played a big role in his decision-making.
“Being a professional athlete takes a toll on you,” George said. “My body wasn't where I wanted it to be. Because my body wasn't where it needed to be, the expectations for performance, obviously, I would have an expectation for myself. That's what led to bad decisions at the time.”
The suspension comes at a cost, both on and off the field. George lost roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, and the Sixers went 13-12 in his absence and are now in the Eastern Conference play-in bracket.
“I've said throughout my career that I'm not a superhero when it comes to dealing with mental health issues,” George said. “I'm human and I made a mistake in that moment.”
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