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Markelle Fultz has rejoined the Philadelphia 76ers as he continues therapy on his shoulder condition. 

Fultz hasn't played a game since leaving the team on November 21st. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome on December 6th, and has been working with therapists in Los Angeles. 

There is still no timetable on Fultz returning to the court, although he is pushing to return this season.

Fultz's agent Raymond Brothers added in early December that his condition was physical and not mental. 

"People were saying it was a mental problem, and it is not. There's no way you're the No. 1 pick in the world and all of a sudden you aren't able to consistently raise your arms to shoot a basketball. Something is physically wrong. Now we have the answer to that problem."

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

This is where the rubber meets the road, I reckon. 6ers have two options moving forward: showcase him in short stints and shop him, or reintegrate him somehow into the line up. Trouble is, the Sixers are slowly starting to gel... his addition could be disastrous - for him and the team.

Cheering for the kid. If he made it back it'd be one heck of a story!

IAMZOOTED2 wrote:This is where the rubber meets the road, I reckon. 6ers have two options moving forward: showcase him in short stints and shop him, or reintegrate him somehow into the line up. Trouble is, the Sixers are slowly starting to gel... his addition could be disastrous - for him and the team.

Cheering for the kid. If he made it back it'd be one heck of a story!

Haven't really followed this Eastern Conference drama closely, but if it's really physical, then it shouldn't be a problem. But, that's a big IF with all that has swirled about this kid. Part of it is that he's a first overall pick, but you wonder if the 76er's couldn't have handled it better, too. Just have to see how he practices and go from there.

THey need him a lot. Get him back in the lineup ASAP.

BigTex wrote:

IAMZOOTED2 wrote:This is where the rubber meets the road, I reckon. 6ers have two options moving forward: showcase him in short stints and shop him, or reintegrate him somehow into the line up. Trouble is, the Sixers are slowly starting to gel... his addition could be disastrous - for him and the team.

Cheering for the kid. If he made it back it'd be one heck of a story!

Haven't really followed this Eastern Conference drama closely, but if it's really physical, then it shouldn't be a problem. But, that's a big IF with all that has swirled about this kid. Part of it is that he's a first overall pick, but you wonder if the 76er's couldn't have handled it better, too. Just have to see how he practices and go from there.

If it was physical you will see it in his improved play if he is healthy. Let’s see if he finally can put his talent on the court without any hindrance. After this if he has any other setbacks it’s going to cost him big time. Don’t think PHI will be able to move forward if any more excuses occur

Ray, you can’t meme this into reality.

Pleeeeeeease. Spare us this nonsense. Everybody knows there's a huge mental aspect to this. And I seriously doubt much is wrong with him physically.
In words of Tom Brady, there's results or excuses. Stop giving us rubbish excuses and just go out there and ball.
GO PATS!!!!

After the news of an injury already came out, I remember a video of him taking full court shots in practice, looks like it didnt bother him then

Coincidentally the trade deadline lives next door.

It was/is THE YIPS!

The way the Sixers are handling this situation is going to impact their ability to retain / attract players in the future.

The ideal route for the Sixers would be once Fultz is fully cleared, then to allow him to play in the G-League to get his confidence back. Allow him to showcase his talent in the GLeauge and then slowly integrate him back into the lineup off the bench as initially the 6th man. Step by step process to build up the player rather then shatter trust / confidence.

If Sixers are rushing to get Fultz back on the court to trade him by the trade deadline, all teams should beware. There is now way you sabotage trade value of a #1 pick in his second year unless there is something truly sinister in their intent to deal him. Otherwise would be foolish on the Sixers part to trade him now without seeing him play competitively for an extended stint.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out leading up to the Feb 7th trade deadline.

RoundMound wrote:It was/is THE YIPS!

Unfounded speculation 101

Jimmy Butler is going to LOVE this kid

SirClutchKing wrote:Pleeeeeeease. Spare us this nonsense. Everybody knows there's a huge mental aspect to this. And I seriously doubt much is wrong with him physically.
In words of Tom Brady, there's results or excuses. Stop giving us rubbish excuses and just go out there and ball.
GO PATS!!!!

Maybe you should at least even google what this diagnosis is, so ignorant lmao. Keep America stoopid.

GeorgeMarcus wrote:

RoundMound wrote:It was/is THE YIPS!

Unfounded speculation 101

Drew Hanlen said it was one of the worst cases of the yips he'd ever seen.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/trainer-drew-hanlen-says-markelle-fultzs-new-shot-ahead-pace-after-case-yips

First of all, Markelle does NOT have a shoulder condition; That was the incorrect diagnosis of Dr. Ben Kibler in Oct. 2017; It very likely he never suffered an injury; It is a Thoracic Outlet nerve compression problem; Located at base of neck in upper right of chest, near the shoulder region; It is a critically sensitive area and surgery would be very dangerous unless they know the exact site of compression;
Even Woj incorrectly said "shoulder" erroneously;

I read from Sixers reporter Keith Pompey, that therapist Judy Seto couldn't continue the therapy because she is at a conference (likely scheduled long ago); Pompey claims she was supposed to continue therapy in Camden, at the Sixers training facility, but now that is uncertain; I personally don't trust the Sixers physical therapy staff, who may have contributed to this fake "Yips" mental talk;

Also, maybe it was lazy reporters, but no one seems to know what Markelle has been doing for the past two weeks, when he was supposed to have a re-evaluation (in St. Louis?) in 2nd week of January; Did he have more tests? Did he then return immediately to LA to continue PT;

It is believed, but not confirmed, that Markelle's referring doc is the renowned Vascular surgeon Robert Thompson of Washington U. in St. Louis; This video from Dr. Thompson is very instructive:

GeorgeMarcus wrote:

RoundMound wrote:It was/is THE YIPS!

Unfounded speculation 101

All this talk about the YIPS, was just BS; Just talk with Ben Uzoh, who knew people would say he was crazy;
Markelle, being a sheltered 20 year old kid, may have started to believe the crap;
Fortunately, Markelle and his agent want to stay with Sixers, unlike what happened to Kawhi when the Spurs didn't believe him;

Markelle will not be traded, as that would be the worst situation to see him become a Star on another team;
If one can relieve the area of compression, then Markelle will become 100% the Star that the Sixers drafted;
He already has improved with NBA defense, passing, ball handling and drives to basket;
It will be interesting to see what shooting form he will use, once he returns (likely in February after the trade deadline);
Although muscle memory is real, I believe that Markelle's old shooting form will and should return, if it is more successful;
The talk about him forgetting how to shoot was nonsense; He just had to adapt to a form that was less uncomfortable;
Unfortunately, Markelle, despite being a very good kid, is not a good communicator; He was certainly afraid to admit the symptoms to the public and maybe not even to Coach Brown;

That the Sixers will not rush him back, is a sign that Brand and Brown do not want to trade him for expiring peanuts, before the Feb 7 trade deadline;

Another video by an expert physical therapist:

RoundMound wrote:

GeorgeMarcus wrote:

RoundMound wrote:It was/is THE YIPS!

Unfounded speculation 101

Drew Hanlen said it was one of the worst cases of the yips he'd ever seen.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/trainer-drew-hanlen-says-markelle-fultzs-new-shot-ahead-pace-after-case-yips

Drew Hanlen has 0 medical background why would anyone take that seriously?

njknicks wrote:The way the Sixers are handling this situation is going to impact their ability to retain / attract players in the future.

The ideal route for the Sixers would be once Fultz is fully cleared, then to allow him to play in the G-League to get his confidence back. Allow him to showcase his talent in the GLeauge and then slowly integrate him back into the lineup off the bench as initially the 6th man. Step by step process to build up the player rather then shatter trust / confidence.

If Sixers are rushing to get Fultz back on the court to trade him by the trade deadline, all teams should beware. There is now way you sabotage trade value of a #1 pick in his second year unless there is something truly sinister in their intent to deal him. Otherwise would be foolish on the Sixers part to trade him now without seeing him play competitively for an extended stint.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out leading up to the Feb 7th trade deadline.

Good post, which are rare to find regarding Fultz; After 1 1/2 years of hearing incorrect reporting/diagnosis, people tend to make up their minds and are hard to change;
Fortunately Fultz' agent seems to think the same way as you and wants a gradual return;
He won't object to some G League, which might not have been the case before;

I am a little surprised that we haven't yet seen Zhaire Smith in the G League; Maybe they are being extra cautious;

curryking3 wrote:

SirClutchKing wrote:Pleeeeeeease. Spare us this nonsense. Everybody knows there's a huge mental aspect to this. And I seriously doubt much is wrong with him physically.
In words of Tom Brady, there's results or excuses. Stop giving us rubbish excuses and just go out there and ball.
GO PATS!!!!

Maybe you should at least even google what this diagnosis is, so ignorant lmao. Keep America stoopid.

Yes, because everyone that doesn't believe everything they read or has an indifferent opinion is ignorant. And ur a doctor I presume? Please