By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
It's almost unfathomable looking back on the series of first round picks from the Sixers the past five years and realizing that Jahlil Okafor Michael Carter-Williams are the only one that played a big chunk of games right off the bat. Dating all the way back to Nerlens Noel in 2013, the Sixers have had bad luck with injuries. The most mind-boggling all of them all has to be that of Markelle Fultz. Known as a sharp-shooting playmaker at the University of Washington, Fultz looked to be the missing piece to a Sixers young core that was and is still in need of a pure scorer. Sure, Fultz could very well revert back to his impressive college ways, but right now he seems like a completely different player re-learning how to shoot a basketball.
During Summer League play and even part of the preseason, we saw glimpses of Fultz's explosiveness, playmaking ability and dribbling skills. His slick spin moves and confidence to score was there. Not everything was going in, but the guy wasn't hesitant to hurl up a jump shot. After four games of the regular season, Fultz was ruled day-to-day which led to him being out indefinitely because well…the Sixers. He was dealing with scapular muscle soreness and imbalance and it showed in his discomfort shooting the ball, whether it was from mid-range or the free throw line. For a guy that was a very polished college player, it looked like he forgot how to shoot a basketball. We could go on and on about what caused the injury or why his shot changed, but the bottom line is that it did and it was almost surreal to watch.
Recently though, we've been getting some very positive updates regarding Fultz. In early December, a medical update indicated that the right shoulder soreness and coinciding scapular muscular imbalance was gone. At the point, the plan was to ramp up his on-court activity. On December 27, Fultz was cleared for even more basketball activity and videos began surfacing of him being more involved at practice. Just 11 days after that, Fultz participated in full contact five-on-five at practice and while the team was in London, he indicated that his injury is a "day-to-day thing". For all intents and purposes, it seems like Fultz is on track to return this month after hearing that. Good news, right? Not so fast though.
Prior to Thursday's game against Boston in London, video was captured of Fultz doing some shooting drills pre-game. It's not too pretty. Although his shoulder issues might be gone, his college shooting form also remains lost.
1-contre-1 au programme pour Markelle Fultz #NBALondon pic.twitter.com/R6otfiB8Sd
— Basket USA (@basketusa) January 11, 2018
Last season, when Ben Simmons was out with a foot injury, head coach Brett Brown spoke about how he'd work with Simmons on his jump shot during rehab to perhaps make his shooting motion more fluid. Although Simmons doesn't take too many jumpers, he has shown more confidence in them as of late. In London, he hit two baseline fadeaway jump shots. The reason this is mentioned is that while Fultz is ready to return health wise, is he ready to return otherwise? If he isn't experiencing shoulder soreness or the imbalance, why is his shot still ugly? All signs were pointing towards him returning soon, but how long will the Sixers hold him back to make sure he can actually be fundamentally effective on offense?
Whether you still believe in Fultz, or think he's a bust, it remains baffling as to how such a promising college prospect looks like a completely different player with a completely different shooting form.
Cue the "we should have drafted Tatum" tweets.
