Markelle Fultz keeps focus on basketball after strong return

Share

BOX SCORE

The uncertainties around Markelle Fultz’s shoulder injury remain but one thing is clear: the 19-year-old rookie just wants to play basketball. 

Fultz returned Monday after being sidelined for 154 days (68 games) with a right shoulder injury. After months of speculation as to whether or not he would be ready to play again this season, he looked comfortable — and eager — in a backup point guard role. 

“Once I stepped on the floor, it felt great just to be back out there with my brothers and have fun,” Fultz said following the Sixers’ 123-104 win over the Nuggets (see observations)

Fultz neared a double-double with 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds in only 14:24 off the bench behind Ben Simmons. He finished 5 for 13 from the field, going inside the paint for the majority of his looks (see highlights).

Fultz showed confidence in attempting jumpers in spite of the fact he has been working to regain his shot. He said that he did not pay attention to the talk of his shooting problems.

“I was just trying to do the little things to help my team win,” Fultz said. “I wasn’t really looking forward to any stats.”

With questions about Fultz’s first game back also comes questions of how he ended up sidelined. He was diagnosed in late October with right shoulder soreness and scapular muscle imbalance. Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said Monday, “The cause is unknown at this stage,” (see story)

Following the game, Fultz did not respond when asked about the cause of the injury. 

“I just woke up and it was that day,” Fultz said of how he decided to play Monday. “I felt good.”

Fultz's return came with 10 games left in the regular season. It in many ways was an unexpected time given that the team had been looking to tighten up rotations, not expand them, and hit a consistent stride to chase home-court advantage. Fultz returned to assist in that quest. 

"I just wanted to help these guys," Fultz said. "They supported me. The coaching staff supported me. I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can possibly be." 

Fultz's biggest adjustment, as it turns out, may be getting used to hearing his name chanted throughout the Wells Fargo Center.

"At first I thought they were saying 'Nick Foles,'" he said. "I realized it and it was pretty dope. These fans are great and I love them."

Contact Us