Sawt Falasteen - Philadelphia's Paul George gets 25-game NBA drugs ban

George's ban will begin with Saturday's Sixers home game against New Orleans.

The 35-year-old American who has averaged 20.5 points over his 16-year NBA career, said in a statement to ESPN he mistakenly took a mental health medication that violated the NBA and players union joint anti-drug policy.

"Over the past few years, I've discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," George told ESPN.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process.

"I'm focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return."

George would not be eligible to return until the 76ers play host to Chicago on March 25, with only 10 games remaining in the regular season for the Sixers.

George has averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals over 27 games this season for Philadelphia, which stands 26-21 and sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Together with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to be contenders this season but their time together as a triple threat has been limited by injuries.

The ban is expected to cost George about $11.7 million of his season salary and save the 76ers about $5 million in luxury tax payments under the league's salary cap system.

Taken by Indiana with the 10th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, George played seven seasons for the Pacers, earning the 2013 NBA Most Improved Player award.

George, who captured Olympic gold with the US team of NBA stars at Rio in 2016, was traded to Oklahoma City in 2017 and led the NBA with 2.2 steals a game in the 2018-19 campaign.

In 2019, George was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster deal that brought reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Thunder along with five first-round draft picks and Italy's Danilo Gallinari -- a swap that helped the Clippers land free agent Kawhi Leonard.

George spent five seasons with the Clippers before opting out of his contract in 2024 and signing a four-year deal worth $212 million with the 76ers.

Injuries limited George to only 41 appearances last season.

T.Ibrahim--SF-PST