{"id":637684,"date":"2025-10-16T22:39:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=637684"},"modified":"2025-10-16T22:39:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:39:06","slug":"will-joel-embiid-and-paul-george-play-in-76ers-regular-season-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/will-joel-embiid-and-paul-george-play-in-76ers-regular-season-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Joel Embiid and Paul George Play in 76ers\u2019 Regular-Season Opener? Latest Update on Availability of Philadelphia\u2019s Star Players\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia 76ers are set to tip off their 2025-26 NBA<\/a> regular season next week on Wednesday, October 22, against the Boston Celtics. Before that, they have one final exhibition game scheduled for Friday, where they will be up against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will allow head coach Nick Nurse and his staff to have a final look at the roster before the team heads into the anticipated clash. However, concerns loom over the availability of their biggest stars, Joel Embiid and Paul George, in the game. <\/p>

Both Paul George and Joel Embiid continue to recover from their respective injuries, and are aiming to make a comeback as soon as possible. But still, what is the scenario? According to the latest announcement by the 76ers, Embiid didn’t participate in the practice session that was planned. As for George, the big man participated in the session and got some 5-on-5 action done. <\/p>

Will Paul George be Available for Regular Season Opener? <\/h2>

While the latest update by the Sixers on George’s participation in practice gave hope to the fans, Nurse’s update was quick to throw cold water on them. According to reports, George, who underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery in July, won’t be available for the preseason finale as well as the regular season opener. <\/p>

As per Derek Bodner of PHLY, “Nick Nurse said that Paul George only played a little bit of 5-on-5 today, and indicated that George playing in the preseason finale, or even the regular season opener next week, was unlikely given he just started playing in live portions of practice yesterday.”<\/em><\/p>

In addition to it, ESPN’s Shams Charania also reported of George’s unavailability in the season opener. “I’ve been talking to people in Paul George’s camp and I’m told that it is not expected that he will be suiting up for opening night,”<\/em> Charania said. “He is making significant progress (on his knee rehab) and a return to debut should be shortly into the regular season.”<\/em><\/p>

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Reporting for NBA Today on 76ers forward Paul George's status to begin the 2025-26 season: pic.twitter.com\/qcWGz4OR1D<\/a><\/p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>