It’s been a tough start for the Philadelphia 76ers, but news of Paul George missing their season opener somehow turned into comedy gold for NBA fans online.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that George is expected to sit out the opener as he continues recovering from offseason knee surgery. While the nine-time All-Star is said to be making “significant progress,” he still has a few “checkmarks” to clear before making his return to the court.
BREAKING: Paul George is expected to miss the Sixers’ season opener, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/QLOd6iQMBX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 16, 2025
That didn’t stop fans from turning the update into another round of jokes.
“It’d be bigger news if he was actually playing atp.”
It’d be bigger news if he was actually playing atp
— Zac – Immortal (@WhosImmortal) October 16, 2025
“Did the team even know he’s still playing?”
“He has got to be the most irrelevant superstar. And his only competition is on his team.”
George was limited to just 41 games last season before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in July — a setback that seems to have slowed, but not stopped, his comeback plan.
“One of the most skilled players to ever touch a ball”: NBA fans show love after practice clip
Even if George won’t suit up on opening night, fans got a small preview of what’s coming. In a clip shared by Sixers insider Kyle Neubeck, George was seen playing one-on-one during practice — and it quickly reminded people just how smooth his game still is.
“One of the most skilled players to ever touch a ball. But there’s more to the game.”
One of the most skilled players to ever touch a ball. But theres more to the game
— Dad Hat Daddy (@influencedbyit) October 10, 2025
“I don’t think nobody in their right minds forgets that PG is one of the top skilled hoopers. Our problem with PG is that he’s not a winner — boy done baited on us for SEVERAL YEARS, that’s the issue.”
“Extremely gifted! Ball handling, footwork, and shot-making ability at his size is matched by verryyyy few!”
Even with the jokes flying, there’s no denying fans still respect George’s talent — they just want to finally see it translate when it matters most.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at papadanph@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
