NBA superstar and Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Paul George has been suspended for 25 games, the league announced on Saturday, January 31 — but Charles Barkley isn’t buying the explanation.
“It’s something fishy going on here,” the NBA Hall of Famer said on Saturday’s episode of Inside the NBA. “Now, I don’t joke around about mental health, but if you’re taking something for mental health, that’s got to be an outlier to the NBA. Like my girl Judge Judy says, ‘If it don’t make sense to me, it don’t make sense,’ because I like Paul George … but if you’re taking something for mental health, even if it’s on a list, you should get a hall pass.”
He continued, “There’s never a good reason to take a performance-enhancing drug. But if you’re taking a drug for your mental health, you should get a hall pass.”
According to the league, George violated the NBA/NBPA anti-drug program. The NBA did not clarify how the star violated the policy or which drug — or drugs — was allegedly involved.
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George told ESPN on Saturday of his suspension. “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process.”
He continued, “I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.”
The 25-game suspension started on Saturday, with the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and could run until March 23.
“Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has been suspended without pay for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, it was announced today by the NBA,” read a statement from the league. “George’s suspension will begin with tonight’s game between the 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans at Xfinity Mobile Arena.”
George — a nine-time NBA All-Star — signed a 4-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers in July 2024, after spending five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. Per ESPN, this suspension will cost George $11.7 million.
Barkley’s fellow NBA analyst and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal also chimed in on Inside the NBA.
“They give us a booklet on what to do and what not to do,” he said. “They give us a booklet. They also give you, inside the booklet, how long it takes to get rid of something. So I don’t want to elaborate on what he was doing, but stuff like this should not happen because they give you a booklet that says don’t take this, this, this. Letter of the law. Do not take any of these things. And when you’ve been in the league this long, you know what it is.”
George is averaging 16 points per game so far this season — his 16th in the league.
The 76ers sit at 27-21 on the year, currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
