🏀 The Suspension Explained
Paul George, a nine-time NBA All-Star for the Philadelphia 76ers, has been suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA after violating the league’s anti-drug program . The suspension began January 31, 2026. George will return around late March with only about 10 regular-season games left. He is losing roughly $11.7 million of his roughly $51.7 million salary this season because of the missed games. But beyond the headlines about his absence on the floor, the financial implications for the 76ers extend deep into salary cap and luxury tax mechanics . 💰 How NBA Suspensions Affect Team Payroll Under NBA rules, when a player is suspended without pay: The money he forfeits does not count against the team’s salary cap or luxury tax total in the same way as fully vested salary would. A portion of that forfeited amount is used to calculate luxury tax credits for the team. In short: the team saves real cash and cap space impact because the suspended player’s salary isn’t fully counted while he is inac…
