The Wild Theory NBA Fans Have About How Paul George Was Caught Violating Anti-Drug Policy

Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games without pay for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

In a statement, George, who joined the league in 2010 after being drafted by the Indiana Pacers, admitted that he'd made a "mistake" while taking a specific medication for a mental health issue.

The news about George's stunning suspension came as a surprise to many, including current and former NBA players who publicly addressed the scandal.

Social media users have also been weighing in on Paul George's suspension, with many sharing a similar belief as to how the 9x NBA All-Star might've been caught in the first place.

According to several outlets, including ESPN, George's 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy began on January 31, 2026.

George will be eligible to return to the court on March 25th for the 76ers' matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

George will return to play with just 10 games left in the regular season, having forfeited roughly $11.7 million of his $51 million salary.

The 76ers are 16-11 when George plays and 10-10 when he doesn't, per ESPN.

George opened up about his shocking suspension to ESPN's Shams Charania, explaining that he'd made a "mistake" after taking an "improper medication" while battling a mental health issue.

"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 said.

George further stated that he intends to use his ongoing suspension to focus on his well-being so he can return to his team at his best.

George's coach, Nick Nurse, chose not to discuss the specifics of the suspension when speaking with reporters. In fact, Nurse praised George in front of the cameras, noting his leadership skills and notable presence within the locker room.

"Really fun to coach," Nurse said. "Really good teammate. His teammates really like him. Showing some great leadership."

Nurse pointed to George's personal struggles, emphasizing how much he cares about the athlete, especially during a time like this. "We're here to help him. The organization is here in any way possible. And try to get past it as soon as we can, get through it the best way we can, and then go from there," he said.

George's teammate, Joel Embiid, also lauded the basketball player's on-court ability and highlighted what he brings to the table as a 76er.

"I know people have mixed feelings about what he brings to the table," Embiid said. "You can't replace it. (He) does everything for us. Defensively, probably our best perimeter defender. Offensively, can play so many roles. Knock down shots. Post up. Creation. Playmaking."

On an episode of "Inside the NBA," Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal weighed in on the topic, expressing disappointment over George's violation.

While O'Neal said he couldn't "elaborate" on what George was or wasn't doing, the LSU alum said that "stuff like this should not happen."

O'Neal pointed to the NBA rulebook provided to players and said it outlines which medications can and cannot be taken during the season. O'Neal called it "the letter of the law" and said that the suspension would certainly "hurt" George.

Charles Barkley chimed in with a different opinion, suggesting that there should be an "outlier" for athletes taking a medication for mental health. "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," Barkley said.

After Charania shared the news of George's suspension on Instagram, several social media users flooded the comments section with reasons they believe the NBA learned of the player's violation.

"They knew sum was wrong when he started going crazy," a user commented, referring to George's January 27 game against the Milwaukee Bucks in which he scored 32 points. "PG got drug tested after having a great game," another user wrote.

"Bro had one good game and they knew sumn was wrong," a third posted, while a fourth shared, "Adam Silver saw him have one good game and locked in."