Philadelphia 76ers star acquisition Jimmy Butler has not yet been acquainted with his new team. Nevertheless, Butler already has his teammates in mind and thinks Markelle Fultz's struggles are mental.
Jimmy Butler on Markelle Fultz: "As long as he’s going hard and working every day, he has my respect … I know he’s just gonna thrive. He’s going to be successful." Butler says he has mutual friends in LA during the summer who know how hard Fultz works to get better.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 13, 2018
Fultz definitely needs more than routine work to improve his shooting woes. While he has been working on his shooting form since sustaining a shoulder injury last year, the young sophomore's shooting percentages this season are still below average. Fultz is shooting 41 percent from the field, including a lowly 31 percent from beyond the arc on very low volume.
Fultz worked on his shot this summer with popular shooting trainer Drew Hanlen, but it seems that the two gentlemen are not working together anymore, per HoopsHype's Alex Kennedy.
Markelle Fultz and Drew Hanlen are no longer working together or on speaking terms, according to league sources. No word on why the two parted ways, but their relationship deteriorated about three weeks ago. Prior to this falling out, Fultz spent the summer training with Hanlen.
Many people are jokingly anticipating how Butler will berate Fultz's jumper, but the 29-year-old All-Star seems not bent on doing that. Butler will undeniably be a leader of this young Sixers team, and one way to motivate a teammate is to let him know that you believe in him.
Even so, it remains to be seen how head coach Brett Brown will reshuffle his lineups after the trade. The Sixers face the Orlando Magic for their next game on Wednesday, and Jimmy Butler is expected to be in the lineup.
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