The 76ers are one step closer to welcoming back a key figure of “The Process.”
According to Sarah Todd of Philly.com, No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz engaged in 5-on-5 play during Sunday’s practice. The former University of Washington standout is making his way back from scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder, which has kept him out of action since Oct. 23. Todd cited Sixers coach Brett Brown saying that Fultz “looked good” in the scrimmage setting.
Fultz will be accompanying the team when they head for London Monday night ahead of Thursday’s game against the Celtics at The O2 Arena, but Brown says he doesn’t expect the rookie guard to return to play just yet.
Philadelphia traded the No. 3 overall pick from the 2017 NBA Draft as well as a future first-round pick for the right to draft Fultz first overall. The 6-4 guard was viewed as a can’t-miss talent with the shooting capabilty to play alongside 6-10 playmaker and Kia Rookie of the Year contender Ben Simmons.
Instead, Fultz began the season with eyebrow-raising changes to his shooting form, which produced just 33-percent accuracy from the field in the four regular-season game she played. In his college season with Washington, Fultz averaged 23.2 points per contest on 47.6-percent shooting, including 41.3 percent from 3-point range.
The Sixers have relied on Simmons and fourth-year big man Joel Embiid, who have Philadelphia (19-19) vying for their first playoff berth since 2012.