In a chilling echo of déjà vu, two of the NBA’s premier stars—Joel Embiid and Paul George—are once again battling the familiar enemy of their careers: knee injuries. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, there are now “significant concerns” surrounding the long-term stability of Joel Embiid’s surgically repaired knee, while Paul George has reportedly suffered a new knee setback during an offseason workout that could sideline him for the entirety of the 2025 preseason.
This latest development raises serious questions—not just about the short-term futures of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors (George’s new team)—but also about the viability of paying $109 million combined to two aging stars with increasingly fragile bodies.
A Costly Absence
The numbers paint a sobering picture. In the 2024–25 season alone, Embiid and George missed a combined 104 games—with Embiid sidelined for 47 and George missing 57. For all their All-NBA resumes, clutch moments, and highlight reels, availability has become their greatest flaw.
At their peak, Embiid is a generational big man—2023 MVP, a dominant two-way force averaging 33.1 PPG and 10.2 RPG. George, a silky-smooth wing and former All-NBA defender, remains one of the league’s best three-level scorers when healthy. But those highs are increasingly interrupted by weeks—if not months—of inactivity, rehab, and uncertainty.
Alarming Trajectory
