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In what seems like an eternity since Markelle Fultz has last touched the basketball court in an NBA game, the Sixers rookie now appears to be making progress. According to Keith Pompey of the Philly Inquirer, Fultz is now playing four on four scrimmages with the Sixers' reserve unit.
.@MarkelleF played 4-on-4 with the low-minute guys on Tuesday. He did some stuff with the second unit at today’s shootaround. #Sixers
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 14, 2018
After suffering a serious shoulder injury, Fultz's shooting stroke has been horrible. The rookie point guard has struggled to shoot wide open free throws with consistency and has proved that he isn't yet ready to return to the NBA. The 76ers appear to be committed to Fultz's rehab process, even using virtual reality to assist the point guard with his shooting trouble, per Philly Voice’s Kyle Neubeck.
With Fultz, there is a different motivation to get him behind the VR goggles. The Sixers, according to multiple sources, wanted him to be able to visualize the mechanics he’ll use in a game, to remember how easy it once was for him to rise up with the ball and shoot from anywhere on the court, and to be able to do so without the glare of the cameras or other people around him. With pressure coming down on him from all angles, turning part of a teenager’s job into a video game is one way to relieve the stress of the situation.
Fultz may just be ruled out for the rest of the season at this point. The 76ers are currently focused on making the postseason, so it's unlikely that they will concentrate their efforts in integrating Fultz into their lineup anytime soon. Though, that hasn't stopped Fultz from taking an all-in approach to bringing back Fultz as soon as possible.
