“I’m not picking…” – Paul George will not sign with LaMelo Ball’s team for a reason that could end his career

Paul George’s recent comments on why he won’t sign with the Charlotte Hornets left no room for speculation. The Philadelphia 76ers forward made it clear that a move to LaMelo Ball’s team is off the table— because, in his own words, it could be the final nail in the coffin of his NBA career.

With his future already clouded by health concerns and an underwhelming season in Philadelphia, George's blunt honesty shows how critical every decision is at this point in his career.

Paul George revealed why he would not join LaMelo Ball’s team Charlotte Hornets

Would Paul George ever consider teaming up with LaMelo Ball and signing with the Hornets? George responded without hesitation.“I’m not picking Charlotte just because there’s no winning culture there. My career is over with if I go there,” George said.

That harsh take isn’t just about the standings, but from his perspective, it is about self-preservation. At 35 and with his body clearly wearing down, George knows his next few years in the league are not about rebuilding. Mostly, it will be about survival. Charlotte, despite its exciting young core, has been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity and has yet to show real promise as a competitive franchise. For a player trying to revive his form and reputation, the Hornets simply don’t offer the right environment for him, at least in his own image of the franchise.

Paul George had a brutal season with the Philadelphia 76ers

George’s current situation with the 76ers hasn’t been smooth, either. After signing a massive four-year, $212 million deal in the summer of 2024, George was expected to be the final piece of Philadelphia’s championship puzzle. Instead, his first season was marred by injuries, inconsistency, and ultimately, disappointment.He played only 41 games, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists— his lowest scoring average since 2014-15, a season in which he played just six games following a major leg injury.

His shooting numbers also dipped, hitting just 43% from the field and 35.8% from three.In March, the Sixers shut him down for the season following injections to treat a left knee issue and a groin injury. At one point, George even stepped away from his “Podcast P with Paul George” show to focus on healing.

Paul George’s injury setbacks continue as training camp looms

If the Sixers had hoped for a fresh start this offseason, those hopes were quickly dashed. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, George recently suffered another setback during a summer workout and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.“I’m told Paul George suffered the injury during an on-court workout last week, and it led to him visiting a doctor on Friday, and the decision was made to undergo arthroscopic surgery,” Charania reported. “The doctors felt like this would be an injury that would linger… now he starts rehab for this knee injury and he will be re-evaluated at the start of this upcoming training camp.”

That cautious approach is necessary. The Sixers have too much invested in the nine-time All-Star, and they need him to be in peak form if they want to bounce back from a disastrous 24-58 season that ended with both George and Joel Embiid sidelined.Also Read: Paul George's successful knee surgery adds new challenge to Philadelphia 76ers' 2025 training camp plans