Markelle Fultz is not the same player he was as recently as summer league.
We’re about two weeks into the NBA regular season and it seems like the top two draft picks can’t stay out of the limelight. Lonzo Ball is carrying a Lavar sized chip on his shoulder, with his father constantly digging his son into holes that he can’t get out of. Most of Lonzo’s problems are off the court and he seems to be having a pretty decent start to his NBA career. Besides getting manhandled by Patrick Beverly in the Lakers opener against the Clippers, Lonzo’s been putting up consistent numbers for a second pick.
The same cannot be said for the first pick in the draft, Markelle Fultz. Through four games of the regular season, Fultz is shooting 33% from the field and is averaging six points and two assists per game. Watching Fultz in the Summer League, you would have thought that his transition into the NBA would be a smooth one. Fultz was second in scoring and shot 46.9%. Then the unthinkable happened, Fultz changes his shooting form. This immediately sparks interest, as it’s extremely odd for a player to get through college and the draft and then make changes to their form. The regular season starts, and now we’re getting a first-hand look at the new and improved form. Of course, the question on everyone’s mind was “Why?”
Well, the answer to that question is just as confusing as the problem itself. Markelle’s agent Raymond Brothers finally addressed the concern last Tuesday, stating that Fultz had a shoulder injury and fluid drained out of his shoulder. Brothers said that Fultz “literally cannot raise up his arms to shoot the basketball” and that he was planning on fighting through the pain (ESPN). The next day, Brothers revised these comments and said that Fultz had liquid put INTO his shoulder when he received a cortisone shot (which helps relieve pain and inflammation) on October 5th (ESPN).
A lot of criticism towards these comments are being steered towards the miscommunicated information, and I can see where that’s coming from. But I think the biggest thing to take away from these comments is the fact that Fultz is obviously uncomfortable, and if both he and the 76ers were aware of his injury, why is he even playing right now? The 76ers have a history of injured draft picks; Ben Simmons (1st pick, 2016), Joel Embiid (3rd pick, 2014), Nerlens Noel (6th pick, 2013), and Jahlil Okafor (3rd pick, 2013). With this history, you would think that Philly would have no problem letting Fultz rest, yet he continues to play. And as a rookie, Fultz has his whole career ahead of him, why put that at stake by playing through an injury? If Philly sits Fultz, they still have enough young talent to win them games. If Fultz sits, he doesn’t have to risk the chances of A. further injuring his shoulder and B. possibly ruining his future career. It seems like this is a no-brainer.
So, who’s to blame here? Is it Fultz deciding to play through an injury, or Philly for letting him?
- TAGS
- Markelle Fultz
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Shooting Motion
- Shoulder Injury
Tweets by RealTheUnderdog
| Cleveland Browns Ray of Sunshine Subscribe on iTunes October 16, 2017 |
| Episode 9- But 8th in the East Subscribe on iTunes October 25, 2017 |
| BLITZcast #372 Subscribe on iTunes September 21, 2017 |
|
