Sixers’ Markelle Fultz to come off bench on Opening Night vs. Wizards

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

There are a few notes out of Sixers camp today just three days away from the season opener with the Wizards in DC, and the Sixers have already made a few decisions in terms of lineups heading into the game.

Because of a lack of preseason games, Sixers point guard and 2017 first overall draft pick Markelle Fultz will start the season on the bench.

In what is a surprising move, the banged up 19-year-old will get his minutes playing with the second team on Wednesday.

Here is Head Coach Brett Brown's reasoning for the decision, from an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jessica Camerato.

With a shoulder injury and a sore knee preventing Fultz from playing in the last couple preseason games, this is a smart move to be able to ease him in to the rotation instead of sticking him right back into harm's way.

Camerato asked Fultz about his shooting form and whether his changed shot was due to his shoulder injury he had been nursing.

With Fultz still playing, but acting as a sixth man, expect the Sixers' Opening Night starting lineup to have Ben Simmons playing point guard, with Jerryd Bayless playing the two. Whatever combination is set out there, I think Fultz and Dario Saric will be coming off the bench for the first time together.

It's unclear how long Brown expects Fultz to play in this role, but for now, this is what he's decided.

Go to top button