The NBA announced a harsh sanction for Paul George, who was suspended for 25 games without pay after violating the American league's anti-drug policy. The punishment will keep the forward for the Philadelphia 76ers off the court until March 25, when his team will host the Chicago Bulls.
The measure began to take effect last Saturday, in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and will have a significant economic impact. George will stop receiving about11.7 million dollars, which is equivalent to about 469 thousand dollars per game, on an estimated annual salary of 51.7 million.
The 35-year-old player himself explained the context that led to the positive doping result. In statements to ESPN, he said: ""I have spoken about the importance of mental health and, in seeking treatment for a personal issue, I made the mistake of taking an inappropriate medication"."
George asumió la responsabilidad
""I take full responsibility for my actions and I apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates, and the Philadelphia fans for my poor decision during this process"", he added.
From a sporting standpoint, the absence represents a significant blow for Philadelphia, which is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and had made a major bet on the trio formed by George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. In the 17 games they shared the court, the team recorded a positive net rating of +7.3 per 100 possessions, which reflects the forward's impact on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, the sanction will also have consequences for the financesof the franchise. According to ESPN, the 76ers will save more than 5 million dollars in luxury tax, ending up just one million above the threshold set by the NBA, which could create room for roster adjustments.
It is worth clarifying that the NBA recalled that doping sanctions are applied automatically, even when the substances are linked to medical treatments, and did not make exceptions despite the explanation provided by the player.
George es una pieza clave en los Sixers
George, an Olympic champion in Rio 2016, is going through his first season in Philadelphia after stints with the Indiana Pacers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Over 15 seasons in the league, he was selected nine times as an All-Star and six times to the All-NBA, establishing himself as one of the best "two-way" players of his generation, with averages of 20.6 points and 1.7 steals per game.
