The Philadelphia 76ers will be starting the 2024-25 season without two of their biggest stars on the floor.
The Sixers have announced that Joel Embiid and Paul George won’t play in Wednesday’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Joel Embiid and Paul George are both out for tomorrows game vs Milwaukee, team says
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 22, 2024
George hyperextended his left knee last week when the Sixers faced the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason exhibition. He left the game in the first half and did not return. The team later announced that George had a bone bruise and had avoided any structural damage. However, no one was sure if George, the team’s major signing this offseason, would be ready for opening night.
Now we know George won’t be making his Sixers debut Wednesday. The team said George will be reevaluated later this week.
Embiid is still recovering from tearing the meniscus in his left knee in January 2024. While the injury was surgically repaired and Embiid was able to return to action in April, head coach Nick Nurse has said that the team is being careful with their big man (especially given his action for Team USA at the Summer Olympics).
While Embiid will not play in any games this week, the Sixers did say that he is ramping up his return-to-play activities, including scrimmaging. He’ll be reevaluated by team doctors next week.