This is nothing new for Sixers fans.
Nerlens Noel sat out an entire season. Ben Simmons sat out an entire season. Joel Emiid sat out two entire seasons.
And now, due to his shoulder issues, what was announced as three days rest has now become “out indefinitely with soreness and scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder.”
In a press release Sunday afternoon, the Sixers announced that the 2017 No. 1 overall pick — a player whom the Sixers traded up and relinquished a future potential top lottery pick for — had “no structural impairment to the shoulder, and he will continue his physiotherapy treatment. Fultz will be reevaluated by Dr. Kibler in approximately three weeks.”
The Sixers once again are moving the goal posts back on when Fultz will play again. Just as they did in the fall of 2016 with Simmons, and in the winter of 2017 with Embiid. Both instances saw the player not play despite reassurances that he would.
Fultz played in the Sixers’ first four games and scored a total of 24 points. He dazzled with his spin move, but his shooting motion was…. weird.
Obviously his shoulder is bothering him, as confirmed by the medical report. But several times during the preseason and offseason Sixers’ front office members and coaches said there was no issue with his shoulder. And then they did. And then they didn’t.
The Sixers could have been open and honest but instead they are changing their story again and again. Hopefully, they will do what is in the best interest of the 76ers and get Fultz right in body and mind so he can become the superstar everyone expected him to be as the No. 1 overall pick.
