Rookie point guard Markelle Fultz has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle after being helped off the court in Saturday’s summer league game, tweets Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com. Fultz will be held out of today’s contest and may not play again during summer league. “We will treat him accordingly and be as cautious as we can, making sure he is healthy,” Sixers summer league coach Lloyd Pierce told ESPN Saturday night. “We will know [more] once we get some treatment on him. I haven’t heard anything [more].” Phliadelphia has experienced terrible injury luck with high draft picks in recent years as Ben Simmons missed all of last season and Joel Embiid has played just 31 games in three years. “I’m a little bit punch-drunk with the injuries that we’ve had with our first players selected over the years,” said head coach Brett Brown.
There’s more news out of Philadelphia:
- The Sixers officially added two veteran leaders Saturday with the signings of J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson, relays Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think I can speak for Amir as well,” Redick said. “We are in the second phase of our career. We’ve been through enough now and have enough wisdom that we can be an effective elder.” The new additions will have important roles on the court as well. Redick, who averaged 15.8 points per game and shot 44% from 3-point range during his four years with the Clippers, is expected to provide a boost to the team’s outside shooting. Johnson will be counted on to solidify the interior defense.
- Furkan Korkmaz is getting his first taste of NBA play in the summer league, writes Benjamin Mehic of The Deseret News. The Sixers believe the 19-year-old Turkish guard, who signed with the team this week, has the talent to eventually become an important contributor. “I think the thing people should zoom in on is how he moves,” said assistant coach Billy Lange. “If you watch his fluidity, his pace, skill and feel for the game, you can see the package. The results will come. The guy just flew across the country. Hopefully he gets more comfortable so we can get him in our gym and get back to work.”
- The Sixers are also high on Jonah Bolden, a second-round pick from 2016, Mehic adds. Being groomed as a stretch four, Bolden spent last season in Serbia trying to improve as a shooter.
- Embiid was fined $10,000 by the league on Saturday for “using inappropriate language on social media,” tweets Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly. Embiid’s message was directed at Lonzo Ball‘s father, LaVar.
lol watch philly keep fultz out for the season #trusttheprocess
Make sure Scott Sheridan treats his injuries
You’ve gotta be bleeping kidding me with the injuries. That’s the theme going forward. It’s like watching a Cowboys or Packers game and it’s the 4th quarter and you know Romo or Favre are going to throw an interception and lose the game.
Gone for the year I’m sure.
he’s only out for 2 weeks it’s a ankle sprain he good, idk why people always post negative stuff smh
If this was any other team, the overreaction wouldn’t be warranted. But this is Philly we’re talking about. Noel, Embiid, Okafor, and Simmons have all missed part or all of their rookie season (and in Embiid’s case, multiple seasons) to injury.
Because negative stuff seems to happen to the bleeping 76ers
You’ve got to be kidding me. The league fines people for saying bad words on the internet?!
Korkmaz quick release like Klay. Bolden could be a steal
Jonah Bolden is a baller! I would like to see him signed to a two-way contract with the likelihood that Okafor gets traded/dumped during the season.