Philadelphia 76ers rookie point guard Markelle Fultz will miss at least the next three games due to a right shoulder injury, the team announced.
He will be re-evaluated next Tuesday.
The injury has already necessitated a cortisone shot, and has wrought havoc on Fultz's shooting mechanics. The No. 1 pick in this year's draft is averaging six points and shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free-throw line through his first four NBA games. He's yet to attempt a 3-point shot.
While many, including Sixers head coach Brett Brown, have speculated that Fultz's injury forced him to alter his shooting motion, general manager Bryan Colangelo suggested on Wednesday that the opposite may be true.
According to The Athletic's Derek Bodner, Colangelo said Fultz's decision to rework his shot may have been what caused the injury, rather than the other way around.
Whatever the reason, a bit of rest and rehab figures to do the struggling rookie some good.
"I think it's appropriate to take a step back," Colangelo said, according to NBC's Jessica Camerato. "Let him take a breath, get him healthy and ready to resume play, hopefully next week."
