“I plan to take a break…” Paul George makes bold decision while addressing Philadelphia 76ers’ ongoing struggles

The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2024-25 NBA season has been anything but smooth. Struggling to meet their championship aspirations, the team has faced significant setbacks, from key injuries to inconsistent performances. Amid these challenges, Paul George has made a crucial decision— putting his popular podcast, Podcast P, on hold to dedicate himself fully to the Sixers’ playoff push.

Paul George has recently announced his temporary hiatus from Podcast P in a recent episode featuring Dwight Howard. He acknowledged the disappointing trajectory of the season but assured that his commitment to the Sixers and their fans is his priority.

“Before we wrap, fellas, it’s no secret—this season, up to this point, hasn’t been what we envisioned,” George stated. “I know my goal when I first signed with the Philadelphia 76ers was to bring a championship to these amazing fans here. I still remain positive about that, and that is still the case and where I’m coming from.”
The nine-time NBA All-Star shared that his decision is driven by his goal to focus on his team at the highest level. “Just to focus on getting my body right, getting mentally right,” he said. “And help this squad make a push towards our goal to finish the season out, give ourselves a chance to be in contention to compete for a championship.”
While his departure from podcasting is not permanent, George made it clear that his top priority is the Sixers’ success. He assured fans that Podcast P will return in the future.
“I won’t front—the desire to get back to shooting in person with my guys as well is at the forefront of this hiatus,” he noted. “I look forward to us three being back together and doing this as we once started this. So we’ll be back on that note… In the meantime, y’all be easy. From Podcast P—love and peace.”
George’s new focus on basketball paid off almost instantly. In a hard-fought 110-105 loss to the New York Knicks, he put up 25 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. It was his best performance in weeks and a promising sign for a Sixers team desperate for a breakthrough.
Although Philadelphia suffered its ninth consecutive loss, the team showed signs of life. Both George and Tyrese Maxey bounced back from slow starts, with Maxey scoring 30 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. adding 27. However, Knicks star Jalen Brunson took over late, scoring 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win for New York.
The Sixers are currently sitting at 20-38.
“It was something that was kind of racking in my head a little bit just because of [being] new to the city, being acclimated to Philadelphia,” George explained. “I wanted to be all in regardless. I didn’t want to take away from that experience of learning the city and being deep down into the city.”
The Sixers’ struggles have led George to be openly critical of the team’s performance. Just days before his hiatus announcement, he voiced his frustration following a brutal loss to the Chicago Bulls.
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“We just don’t have the habits of a championship or a playoff-contending team,” he admitted. “To be honest, right now, it’s a little far-fetched. All we can do is work hard. Try to just keep going for one another. We’ve shown no signs of, forget championship, but a playoff-contending team here.”
George is currently averaging 16.4 points per game, his lowest since his rookie year.