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The Weird Saga Continues: Markelle Fultz Still Not Ready For Scrimmages

2017’s number one draft pick, Markelle Fultz’s saga is still as strange and controversial as it was during his rookie season.

At the beginning of said rookie season, Fultz played through a shoulder injury that apparently caused him to forget how to shoot. All we know is that Fultz did not shoot weirdly in college, but does now.

But no doctor was really able to diagnose an injury, or a cause for the shooting woes and possible pain Fultz was experiencing.

Then, after plenty of unsuccessful doctor appointments, Fultz finally was able to find out the reason for his shooting woes. He was diagnosed with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, (TOS), a physical injury. TOS affects nerves between the neck and shoulder resulting in abnormal functional movement and range of motion, thus severely shoot a basketball.

But the Philadelphia 76ers’ win now mentality did not give them the time to wait on Fultz, and the franchise traded their former No. 1 pick to the Orlando Magic, before last season’s trade deadline.

Fultz was finally given a fresh start… so we thought. Turns out switching teams didn’t help Fultz’s issues. Orlando coach Steve Clifford now revealed that Markelle Fultz still isn’t ready for 5-on-5 basketball.

Clifford says Markelle Fultz is still not ready for 5-on-5. Man.

— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) July 6, 2019

Additionally, Orlando Magic general manager John Hammond recently said on 96.9 The Game that they still have no idea when Fultz will make his Magic debut:

“It’s just a matter of him just continuing to get more comfortable, continuing for him to get himself in a position where he’s ready to step on the floor and help us. And look, we have no idea when that’s going to be. We’re hoping much, much sooner than later. But once again, we’re trying to do this the best we can.”

The saga continues… unfortunately.