The Philadelphia 76ers’ promising campaign next season is now in jeopardy after their No. 1 overall pick, Markelle Fultz, suffered a left ankle injury in Saturday’s Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Fultz sustained the injury when he tried to chase down and block Warriors guard Jabari Brown. He stepped on the back of Brown’s foot and landed on his left ankle. Fultz tried to stand but he could not put weight on his left ankle.
Fultz was then helped to the locker room. Shelburne said the nature and severity of Fultz’s injury is unclear.
He is expected to undergo X-rays. According to Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News, the injury could be a sprained left ankle.
First-round pick jinx for 76ers
Minutes after Fultz sustained the injury, Philadelphia center Joel Embiid tweeted “Oh no no no.. don't do this to us," referring to the 76ers' long list of injuries to their top prospects. Ben Simmons, the 76ers' top overall pick last season, sustained a broken foot in practice and missed his entire rookie year.
Oh no no no.. don't do this to us
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 9, 2017
Embiid was drafted 3rd overall by the Sixers in 2014 but missed his first two years in the NBA due to a foot injury. Embiid played his rookie year last season, seeing action for 31 games and averaging 20.2 points and 7.8 boards.
The 76ers acquired sixth overall pick Nerlens Noel via a draft day trade in 2013 but he missed his rookie season as well due to a knee injury.
Fultz signs rookie deal with 76ers
Hours before he suffered the injury, Fultz agreed to terms on a four-year rookie deal with the 76ers. As the No. 1 pick, Fultz is scheduled to make $5.8 million next season but the Sixers can pay him 20 percent more than that.
Like any other rookie deal, the first two years of Fultz's contract will be guaranteed, while the third and fourth years are team options. In his only season with Washington, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Fultz signed the contract with his mother Ebony and trainer Keith Williams present.
The signing was scheduled days ago but Fultz delayed it because he wanted his mother to be in attendance. In a statement, Philadelphia team president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo welcomed Fultz into the 76ers family. “At only 19 years of age, the sky is the limit for Markelle and we could not be happier to have him join our Sixers family,” said Colangelo.
