Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Markelle Fultz will miss the next three games with soreness in his right shoulder.
Fultz, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has had problems with his shoulder all season that have greatly affected his free-throw mechanics. Fultz’s form has been widely mocked as his shots clanked off the backboard.
Michael Lee of The Vertical reports that Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo says there is “no structural damage” to Fultz’s shoulder. Additionally, Fultz was medically cleared to play, but the plan has since changed.
76ers GM Bryan Colangelo said there is “no structural damage” with Markelle Fultz’s shoulder. MF was medically cleared but plan has changed
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) October 25, 2017
Bryan Colangelo just implied Markelle Fultz trying to change his shooting mechanics sometime in August might've caused the shoulder problem.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 25, 2017
Bryan Colangelo has twice suggested that Markelle Fultz changing his shooting mechanics in August contributed to his shoulder complications
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) October 25, 2017
Yesterday, Fultz’s agent, Raymond Brothers, told ESPN.com that Fultz has been trying to play through his shoulder injury and received a cortisone shot there earlier this month. Brothers added that Fultz has been unable to “raise up his arms to shoot the basketball” and that Fultz was planning to see a shoulder specialist soon.
Fultz has struggled to begin the season, averaging 6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.9 minutes. Through four games, Fultz is shooting just 33 percent on field goals (9-for-27), 50 percent on free throws (6-for-12) and he has yet to attempt a 3-point shot — all of which Brothers said he attributes to Fultz’s injury:
“From a basketball perspective, it’s been encouraging to see that Markelle can get any shot he wants during the games, but he has been unable to shoot the ball,” Brothers told Wojnarowski.
The Sixers host the Houston Rockets tonight (7 ET, NBA League Pass).
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