Markelle Fultz reassures Sixers fans about his health

Markelle Fultz went down in his third summer league game, and pandemonium broke out across the Sixers’ fanbase.

There are a lot of situations that could turn this rebuild into a failure. Joel Embiid is still trying to find stability and Ben Simmons has yet to play. So when the Sixers traded for the chance to draft Markelle Fultz, it felt like some stability was in place. A failsafe was created.

That feeling of stability was shattered yesterday, as Fultz went down after he rolled his ankle in the third quarter of the matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Naturally, Sixers fans erupted with chaos. Another year, another top pick facing injury. It’s a sad tradition that started in the 2013 NBA Draft, when Nerlens Noel was forced to miss his first season before being drafted.

This year was feeling as it the luck would change. Even with Markelle Futlz’s prior injury at Washington, his build as big guard was thought to bring stability. But of course, freak injuries happen. And one occurred. Thankfully, the diagnoses was somewhat positive. A high ankle sprain will keep Fultz off the basketball court for probably the next month or so. He has been ruled out for the rest of summer league.

That of course, is what the expected recovery is. Sixers fans have been burned in the past. With Joel Embiid, twice. With Ben Simmons. Even with Jahlil Okafor, who seemed to still feel the ill effects of a knee-injury despite being months removed from what was supposed to be a short recovery.

Markelle Fultz gave Sixers fans some needed reassurance, which helped ease the blow a little bit.

Sixers fans were probably a little more than worried. Fultz is the Sixers’ most valuable new asset. And his health must be stable for the team to move forward. With question marks within this young core increasing, Philadelphia must look towards a stable answer.

The hope will be Embiid, Simmons, and Fultz will move forward healthily. And with that, build the most feared core in the Eastern Conference for seasons to come. There will be bumps and bruises, but another major injury would be crippling to the morale of the organization.

Next: Finding minutes for Furkan

The beginning of the season is still a ways away, which should allow Markelle Fultz to be fully ready for the beginning of the regular season. With watching this team the past few seasons, Sixers fans should continue to be cautious of their expectations in regards to this medical team.