The latest chapter in the Markelle Fultz saga started a few weeks ago, as his agent/attorney announced that the Philadelphia 76ers guard would be sidelined. During that time, Fultz would meet with specialists in New York City to figure out exactly what’s going on, as it was obvious that his ability to shoot the basketball just wasn’t there.
Which raised the question: What on earth is going on with Markelle Fultz now? Plenty of people wondered if it was something like the yips, while the Sixers were blindsided with his agent’s implication that something was physically wrong to the point that he needed to leave the team and get examined by specialists.
On Tuesday, we finally learned the latest diagnosis, and if you know any Sixers fans, prepare for them to become an expert in what Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is. That’s because Fultz’s agent, Raymond Brothers, told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that’s what’s bothering the second-year guard.
Agent Raymond Brothers: “Markelle (Fultz) has been 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…”— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 4, 2018
Clarification: “…thus severely limiting Markelle’s ability to shoot a basketball. TOS is treatable by physical therapy.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 4, 2018
Soon after, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Fultz will likely miss weeks as he begins physical therapy. The Sixers confirmed that PT is on the horizon, but said Fultz is out indefinitely.
Sources: 76ers‘ Markelle Fultz will be out indefinitely with thoracic outlet syndrome, starting physical therapy immediately. Likely weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2018
A press release from the #Sixers: pic.twitter.com/tg1DeYa03d
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 4, 2018
Wojnarowski, meanwhile, reports that there’s optimism this won’t hold Fultz out too long.
The Sixers are calling Fultz out "indefinitely" but there's optimism that he can return within an approximate range of three to six weeks, league sources tell ESPN. Timetable will depend upon success of rehab to ease symptoms and pain tolerance.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 4, 2018
At this point, hopefully this is, indeed, the correct diagnosis. All that matters is that Fultz is able to overcome whatever this is and get close to the level that made him the no-doubt No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. It’s taken a long time to identify Thoracic Outlet Syndrome as the culprit, and if it is, perhaps everyone with a stake in his future can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
