Sixers star Markelle Fultz grinded into oblivion in social media bloodbath
BEN Simmons’ star teammate has been grinded into oblivion in a social media bloodbath following a complete meltdown.
YOU can actually pinpoint the second Markelle Fultz’s brain explodes.
The Philadelphia rookie’s sad struggles continued on Tuesday when he became the victim of a social media bloodbath during the 76ers’ 124-114 win over Miami in Florida.
In defence of the bloodthirsty Twitter trolls, the obscene level of shade thrown at the lost 20-year-old was almost certainly justified.
His latest shooting performance is indefensible.
Fultz showed off a nervous kink in his first trip to the line mid-way through the second quarter, but still knocked down his first shot from the charity stripe.
His second attempt was the stuff of nightmares.
From the second it left his fingers, Fultz’s papers were marked.
The former No. 1 draft pick has endured a year from hell.
His jump shot has dissolved into a panicked mess.
Opposition teams have treated him with overt disrespect — at times failing to even guard him.
He’s been singled out as the reason the 76ers offence has been unable at times to breakdown defensive structures that choke up the paint when Fultz and Ben Simmons run the floor together.
All of that negativity finally appeared to break Fultz when he stepped up to the line to shoot his second free-throw against the Heat.
His disjointed action left commentators stunned at how far the college phenomenon has fallen.
This is worse than we have ever seen Fultz's free throw form look. pic.twitter.com/FhCYpNpd5b
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) November 13, 2018
His unnatural pump-fake after already stretching towards the release point was immediately set-upon by the internet’s jokers and meme-generators.
Many made the comparison with NBA legend Charles Barkley’s notoriously gruesome golf swing.
Others found Fultz’s slip into madness a truly sad story for the NBA.
Either way, it was as ugly as it gets.
But speaking after the game, Fultz offered a reasoning behind why his action looked so disjointed during his free throw effort.
“The ball slipped out of my hand, so I had to do what I had to do,” Fultz said.
“I had to do what I had to do, but I’m not really worried about it. I have to work on my game. The ball just happened to slip, that’s what happened.”
The former number one draft pick then stated he’s not worried about any of the feedback from social media as he doesn’t pay attention to it.
“I’m not really worried about it. I work on my game,” Fultz added.
“Everybody knows how hard I work. So it happens. The thing is I don’t really care about what people say or what people are going to say. I really don’t give a (freak) for real. I work on my game and that’s how it’s going to go.”
Markelle Fultz shoots free-throws like someone who has only ever heard them described in a book they read a long time ago.
— Colley (@JamColley) November 13, 2018
More brutal form
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 13, 2018
Markelle Fultz -120
Charles Barkley +100 https://t.co/V6vH3o3PH9
Watching Markelle Fultz is actually heartbreaking. The kid is a shell of himself
— James McKern (@jLmcKern) November 13, 2018
Space Jam 2 is coming out...are the Monstars out here stealing Fultz's talent? 🤔 https://t.co/C9aBPCOdpI
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 13, 2018
Fultz has the basketball shot equivalent of Charles Barkley’s golf swing. https://t.co/l10aEFjDf3
— Jeff Ratcliffe (@JeffRatcliffe) November 13, 2018
Sixers need a healthy split from Fultz so he can figure things out. An elite floor spacer like John Henson is probably fair compensation. https://t.co/5GqpkapH6v
— Travis Schlepp (@travischlepp) November 13, 2018
Perhaps the lowest moment of Fultz’s NBA career came in the second half when news filtered through that his partnership with former specialist shooting coach Drew Hanlen has been ended.
Hanlen, who has previously worked with Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Sixers centre Joel Embiid, is reportedly no longer even on speaking terms with Fultz — their relationship ending as messy as it gets.
Markelle Fultz and Drew Hanlen are no longer working together or on speaking terms, according to league sources. No word on why the two parted ways, but their relationship deteriorated about three weeks ago. Prior to this falling out, Fultz spent the summer training with Hanlen.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) November 13, 2018
For the record, Drew Hanlen WILL continue to train Joel Embiid. https://t.co/dSlyu7wZU8
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) November 13, 2018
Incredible. Markelle Fultz shot a free throw so bad that within minutes his ex-shooting coach had already let media know he wasn't responsible https://t.co/l3aAnOwEBj
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 13, 2018
Just as consequential for Fultz is that his blunder comes just days after the 76ers dramatically landed shooting superstar Jimmy Butler in a high-profile trade.
In a move which is expected to choke up Fultz’s time on court, some commentators have interpreted the signing of Butler as an indication Philadelphia has given up on Fultz.
Butler, a four-time All-Star forward, is now officially a member of the 76ers, after they and the Minnesota Timberwolves received approval from the league office Monday on the terms of the trade that was agreed to over the weekend.
Butler will be introduced by the 76ers on Wednesday (AEDT) and is expected to debut with
his new club at Orlando on Thursday (AEDT).
Butler has averaged 21.8 points per game since the start of the 2014-15 season, the 13th highest clip in the NBA over that span.
Despite Butler’s threat to his position, Fultz welcomed the former Bulls star’s signature earlier this week.
“I think he’s going to bring toughness, scoring ability, a veteran,” Fultz said.
“Just going to compete on both ends of the floor and I hope he pushes this team to a higher level.”
— with AP
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