NBA hands Paul George 25-game ban due to drug violation

The NBA has announced that Paul George, a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, will serve a 25-game suspension due to a violation of the league’s Anti-Drug Program. The exact nature of the infraction and the substance involved are not being disclosed.

According to the terms of the agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, this is George’s first offense under the program. As a result, he will forfeit approximately $11.7 million from his salary, which translates to around $469,691.72 per game missed.

George, a nine-time All-Star, is expected to be eligible to return to action on March 25, when the 76ers host Chicago. At that point, Philadelphia will have 10 games remaining in the regular season. The team currently stands at 26-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference.

In terms of performance, George has averaged 16 points per game this season for the 76ers, ranking third on the team behind Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. He had a notable performance earlier this week, scoring 32 points with nine three-pointers in a win over Milwaukee.

Source: Al Jazeera