Philadelphia 76ers point guard Markelle Fultz will be out until he sees a shoulder specialist early next week, Fultz’s agent, Raymond Brothers, told ESPN.
The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Fultz, the 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick, missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury.
Fultz was benched Monday night in favor of T.J. McConnell, who helped lift Philadelphia to a 119-114 victory, a third straight win for the Sixers.
Coach Brett Brown wouldn’t commit to either player as his backup point guard moving forward.
“I don’t know,” he said after the game.
When asked what would inform his decision, Brown said, “Just when I think it through deeper and look at tape and see who we’re playing, the next opponent, all those things I should do.”
Fultz – who missed both shots he took and went scoreless in seven minutes – downplayed the situation, saying he supports the team, including Brown and McConnell, no matter how much he’s playing.
“Our relationship is more than teammates,” Fultz said. “We both want to see each other do well, and we want to see the team win, so anytime one of us step on the court, we are probably rooting for each other more than most people. That’s how it is.
“You definitely want to go out there and compete … I’m a competitor. But, at the end of the day, coach made a decision to do that, so I have to live with it. My mindset is just, when I step on the court, go out there and play. But while T.J. is out there, I’m rooting for him.
“It’s not like I’m sitting on the bench pouting or anything. I want to be out there, but I’m going to root for my teammates.”
Information from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps is included in this report.