This week, Paul George criticized the Philadelphia 76ers for their lack of competitive spirit, stating that his teammates had shown “no signs of a team that will compete.” Just a few days later, he backed up his words with a significant decision.
On Wednesday’s edition of Podcast P, George announced that he will be taking an indefinite break from the show he started less than a year ago. The veteran forward, who signed a four-year maximum contract with the Sixers last offseason, has experienced his worst scoring season in over a decade. With a current record of 20-37, Philadelphia finds itself at 12th in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, a far cry from the championship aspirations they had at the season’s start.
Reflecting on this, George stated, “It’s no secret that this season, up to this point, hasn’t been what we envisioned. I know my goal when I first signed with Philadelphia was to bring a championship to these amazing fans here. I remain positive about that and that is still the case. I want to let the Podcast P family know that after today’s episode… I plan to take a break from the pod just to focus on getting my body right, getting mentally right, and helping this squad make a push toward our goal to finish the season out and give ourselves a chance to contend for a championship.”
The Sixers are reportedly contemplating shutting down 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid for the season due to ongoing knee issues, making it a challenging prospect to reach the league’s play-in tournament for the postseason. George’s decision to pause his podcast comes amidst discussions about his continued hosting, as highlighted in The Bill Simmons Podcast. As one of the most notable athlete podcasters, George is the first to halt episodes in response to his team’s performance.
Regardless of whether this break is for image reasons or if George genuinely believes he can better dedicate time to his physical and mental health, Podcast P will be on hiatus for now.
