The mystery surrounding Sixers guard Markelle Fultz and his troubling right shoulder has gained long overdue clarity.
Fultz will be out of commish for roughly six weeks after being diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Usually the injury is associated with baseball pitchers and require lengthier rehab periods. Adrian Wojnarowski breaks down the full time table for a return.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz is expected to miss an approximate range of three to six weeks to undergo rehabilitation on his right shoulder, league sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Fultz, the No 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has been diagnosed with Throracic Outlet Syndrome, his attorney/agent Raymond Brothers and the 76ers said Tuesday.
The condition will be treated with physical therapy. On the advice of Brothers, Fultz visited with several specialists over the past week, consultations that resulted with them bringing this diagnosis back to the organization. Brothers told ESPN that the affecting of “nerves between the neck and shoulder” resulted in an “abnormal functional movement and range of motion,” and that “severely [limited] Markelle’s ability to shoot a basketball.”
The 20-year-old Fultz has seen more than 10 specialists in the past year, beyond his care with the 76ers training staff.Brothers informed the Sixers on Nov. 21 that Fultz would seek further opinions on his shoulder before a return to the court — a decision that the organization has left to Fultz and his management team. Fultz has lost the ability to carry out and follow through on long jump shots, and there’s been internal and external debate about how much of this perplexing circumstance is physical vs. mental.
Hopefully Fultz can heal physically and probably more importantly mentally during his hiatus. Only a sophomore guard with an immensely talented array of moves and raw ability, Fultz still has the opportunity to thrive in the NBA with a likely change of scenery needed.