PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers’ prized free-agent acquisition Paul George left Monday’s preseason game against Atlanta with a hyperextended left knee.
There was no immediate update how much time George might miss following his injury. A nine-time All-Star, George’s knee buckled on a defensive play in the second quarter. He scored eight points in 12 minutes in a 104-89 victory.
“I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and (looked at), but if you ask me, I’m not too concerned about it,” George told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
76ers coach Nick Nurse said the 34-year-old George would be examined on Tuesday.
“You never want anything to happen to anybody,” Nurse said. “Certainly, just kind of trying to work him into things. He wants to work into things, too. This doesn’t give us a chance to do that. Hopefully it’ll be OK so he’s back with us right away.”
The Sixers have been cautious with their star players and shut down center Joel Embiid on Sunday for the rest of the preseason for what the team called left knee management.
The 76ers — who signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer — are his fourth team, after seven years with Indiana, two with Oklahoma City and the last five as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s a six-time All-NBA selection and has averaged 20.8 points over first 14 NBA seasons.