Markelle Fultz remains the NBA’s most bizarre player

Ben Simmons’ NBA team has been rocked by a series of headlines this season and the latest development comes with a confusing legal twist.

Markelle Fultz shoots the ball against Rudy Gobert. Picture: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP

The Markelle Fultz drama is taking a turn for the even weirder, this time with a legal angle.

The Philadelphia 76ers bewildering point guard, whose jump shot disappeared upon entering the NBA, reportedly needs to see a shoulder specialist again.

His lawyer and agent, Raymond Brothers, is urging this check-up, which was revealed the day after Fultz was left on the bench for the entire second half of the 76ers’ win against Phoenix.

It is unclear why Brothers — and not Fultz or the 76ers — is pulling the strings for this doctor visit. But it makes its own bit of sense, considering how bizarre this saga has been. Fultz, who recently split from shooting coach and confidant Drew Hanlen, was the No. 1 overall pick out of Washington in 2017, but he started play with an awkward, ineffective shot that he and the team blamed on a shoulder injury.

He was shut down after just four games last season to recuperate and returned late in the season, his shot still with a hitch.

This year, the quick, 193cm has been on the court but largely ineffective, his shot still off in averaging 8.2 points in 19 minutes per game. He’s taken just 14 threes — and made four of them.

Last week came a viral, humiliating moment for Fultz, who double-clutched on a foul shot; for other shooters it would be a method to draw rebounders into the lane early, for Fultz it was the height of the problem.

He tried to remedy it by changing his routine — but the new hot potato-style release was just as weird.

Then came Tuesday (AEST), when after another lacklustre seven minutes Fultz lost his back-up minutes to teammate TJ McConnell.

A rare joyful moment for Markelle Fultz (right) on the basketball court.

Sixers coach Brett Brown didn’t want to speculate on the timing of the revelations Fultz’s shoulder problems are back — but he was clearly blindsided by the news.

“It’s the first real red flag,” Brown told reporters. “I played him 20 minutes four days ago and I thought he played well. He’s having a good year.

“It was one of those things last night. The gym was flat, we needed some energy and I went with TJ. You all know what I know. That’s what (McConnell) does. It’s an injection.

“It wasn’t the result of anything Markelle did, we just needed a jolt. And (McConnell) gave it to us, as none of us were surprised to see him do.

“So this news about his shoulder did catch me off-guard. But if it’s that real, that he needs to go seek further consultation, then we support him.”

General manager Elton Brand was also quizzed and confirmed there had been no previous indication this season Fultz was experiencing serious problems with his shoulder. “Not that we knew of,” Brand told reporters. “Not that he couldn’t play — and play at a high level.”

#Sixers coach Brett Brown in the Markelle Fultz situation. pic.twitter.com/WHLwdx8VB1

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 20, 2018

Fultz said all the right things after being snubbed in the second half, saying he was “rooting for” McConnell.

“Our relationship is more than teammates,” Fultz said. “We both want to see each other do well, and we want to see the team win, so anytime one of us step on the court, we are probably rooting for each other more than most people. That’s how it is.

“You definitely want to go out there and compete ... I’m a competitor. But, at the end of the day, coach made a decision to do that, so I have to live with it. My mindset is just, when I step on the court, go out there and play. But while T.J. is out there, I’m rooting for him.

“It’s not like I’m sitting on the bench pouting or anything. I want to be out there, but I’m going to root for my teammates.”

That the Sixers appeared to be blindsided by @MarkelleF’s agent effectively shutting him down suggests the two sides are not on the same page. Makes you think if Fultz eventually succeeds, it won’t be in Philly.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) November 20, 2018

But the announcement afterwards indicates all isn’t as rosy as he tried to make it seem.

There was one ray of hope for Philly — which currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 12-7 record — after it was initially reported Fultz would not play or even practise with the team until his shoulder examination.

Philadelphia Inquirer NBA writer Keith Pompey revealed he was with his teammates on Wednesday.

Markelle Fultz worked out with the #Sixers today even after his agent said he wouldn’t practice or play until he sees a shoulder specialist. Fultz participated in light shooting with teammates, according to league sources. The Sixers didn’t have a formal practice.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 20, 2018

What that means in the short and long-term remains to be seen.

— with New York Post

Originally published as Markelle Fultz remains the NBA’s most bizarre player