Long time off, no salary: Basketball superstar Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers has been suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
The 35-year-old has to sit out 25 games and forego the corresponding salary of around 11.7 million US dollars (9.83 million euros) during this time. The North American professional basketball league did not specify in its statement what violation George was accused of.
George: “Take full responsibility”
The nine-time All Star admitted “ESPN” a statement. “Over the past few years I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of mental health, and in the course of my own treatment I recently made the mistake of taking an inappropriate medication”George was quoted as saying: “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers, my teammates and the fans in Philadelphia for my poor decisions during this time.”
$212 million contract
George will be allowed to return to the field at the end of March. He signed a four-year contract worth $212 million in the summer of 2024, but was plagued by knee problems and then played one of the worst seasons of his NBA career. Last July, the 2016 Olympic champion had surgery on his left knee and missed the first games of the season. Philadelphia is on course for the playoffs with 26 wins from 47 games Eastern Conference.
