Despite ‘fantastic’ day, there’s still no news on Fultz
PHILADELPHIA >> Sixers coach Brett Brown had a man-to-man talk the other day with mercurial guard Markelle Fultz, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft who sat out his fifth straight game Friday.
They left with an understanding that Fultz would seek further evaluations of what his agent described in reports as a shoulder issue. A source confirmed that Fultz will get together with a shoulder specialist.
“I met with Markelle yesterday,” Brown said before the Sixers played the Wizards at the Center. “We had a fantastic day at the facility. I thought he looked great. His spirit, his face, he looked great. I, we look forward to just getting him back in here, getting him with his teammates and continuing to try to help move him forward.”
Brown didn’t mention anything about the herky-jerky free throw form that Fultz struggled with against the Heat (the double-pump) and the Jazz (the juggle). To many, it appears to be a case of the yips. Fultz was examined by team specialists and then sought out medical opinions from doctors in New York City.
Whatever the issue is, the Sixers aren’t in a hurry to rush Fultz back into action. There are reports that teams have contacted the Sixers asking what it would take to acquire the point guard.
The Sixers are 3-1 since Fultz began sitting out games.
Veteran T.J. McConnell has benefitted from the absence of Fultz, as his playing time has increased.
Brown promised more information down the road on Fultz, who’s averaging 8.2 points, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 56.8 percent from the free throw line this season.
“We will provide further information on Markelle Fultz, not today,” Brown said. “But I know that he is seeing people, that there is stuff still going on where we’re trying to learn more.”
••• Wizards center Dwight Howard is out indefinitely to have surgery on a couple of herniated disks in his back.
Howard, 32, had missed a chunk of time after trying to play through it.
“He’s tried everything to be able to play without having the surgery,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “The pain had progressively gotten worse. He tried to come back a week ago and it didn’t happen. But he’s done everything that I’ve asked, everything the coaches have asked. He’s been a great teammate. It’s pretty incredible the talent that he has with not having his game legs and he still averages 13 and nine. He’s going to be missed.”
Howard averages 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds.
••• Speaking of that Thursday practice, Brown’s vision of the chemistry that newcomer Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons are building is five-star material.
No sooner had Brown spoken of the impact the duo has had defensively, the Sixers made life ridiculously hard for the Wizards shooters.
“I see a partnership with those two,” Brown said. “I think that Ben Simmons can be anything he wants to be defensively. I think his easiest way to impact an NBA game right now is through the defensive end. And I feel that when Ben walks in, and I thought he was great the last game, our world changes. It changes dramatically. And Jimmy, because that’s how he’s wired, I see those guys forming a tremendous partnership. And Jimmy helping Ben. Helping Ben from an accountability standpoint, all that stuff. Watching those two guys shoot the other day was a tremendous sort of sight.”
•••
The referee Friday was Tom Washington, who hails from Central High in Philadelphia.
Washington is in his 28th season. He’s also a golfing buddy of CBS on air personality Ukee Washington.