If it have been as much as Markelle Fultz, he would’ve been on the ground for the Orlando Magic’s 94-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday at Amway Center.
Fultz, the sixth-year guard who’s been sidelined since fracturing his large left toe in September proper earlier than coaching camp began, is now not carrying a boot and hasn’t skilled ache in his left foot for not less than a few weeks.
But there are important steps that have to be taken in his return-to-play course of. The essential ones: Knowing the fracture has absolutely healed and getting cleared to do extra in observe.
“I feel good, ready to play,” Fultz informed the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday night earlier than the Magic’s third win of the season. “Just waiting on that day to get cleared.”
Fultz didn’t know whether or not the fracture had absolutely healed as of Wednesday.
His final scan, which he stated was about two weeks in the past, confirmed the toe improved however wasn’t absolutely healed.
He’s purported to get one other scan this week to see if the bone has healed fully — a big step earlier than getting cleared.
“I haven’t felt anything for a minute so it’s kind of weird because I didn’t feel anything before my last scan and then it came back it healed some but not to their liking,” Fultz stated. “So hopefully this next scan is fully healed and I’m able to get the green light to get a few practices under my belt and go out there and play.”
Fultz hopes to make his season debut “within the next 3-4 weeks” however understands his return to play will depend upon the standing of his subsequent scan and the way he responds to the elevated workload.
Once cleared, he’ll be capable to ramp up his conditioning and broaden his on-court work.
“I’ve been pushing … but the biggest thing is that scan,” Fultz stated. “Once that gets cleared, I’ll have a clear view of when I can actually hoop and play. If it was up to me, I’d be playing right now because I don’t feel anything. That scan is going to be a big green light for me.”
Coach Jamahl Mosley informed reporters Wednesday that Fultz has been working individually with coaches throughout practices — capturing, dealing with the ball and shifting round “a little bit.”
Fultz confirmed to the Sentinel what Mosley stated, including that he runs on the treadmill, jumps, strikes round on the courtroom and works on his ending.
“I just don’t do a lot of contact play,” he stated. “I’m doing a bit of contact in my drills however not full. That’s just about it. I can just about do every thing besides I’m not doing 1-on-1 or 4-on-4 or stuff like that but.
“I still [am] cutting, dribbling, shooting, jumping — I just haven’t done it against another player, full-on bumping and stuff like that.”
Fultz stopped carrying the boot final week and was seen going by on-court drills with assistant/abilities coach Aubrey McCreary on Monday.
“It was pretty much going off my feeling like let’s try to ramp up some stuff on [the] court and see if you get any irritation and I haven’t last week and this week,” Fultz stated about taking off the boot whereas he waits for the bone to totally heal. “It’s all good stuff. I’m moving in the right direction.”
Fultz is within the second season of a 3-year, $50 million contract ($35 million assured) he signed with the Magic in December 2020.
He has a $16.5 million wage for 2022-23 that’s absolutely assured, whereas $2 million of his $17 million wage is assured for the 2023-24 season. Next season’s wage will grow to be absolutely assured if he’s on the roster previous July 1.
Fultz’s harm struggles have restricted his enjoying time (131 video games in 5 seasons) since being the No. 1 decide within the 2017 NBA draft.
“I’ve been through so much,” he stated. “I understand this process, be patient and listen to your body and when that time comes, just be ready for it.”
He performed in simply 33 video games throughout the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers due to a nerve challenge in his proper shoulder that was later recognized as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome earlier than being traded to the Magic forward of the 2019 commerce deadline.
Fultz’s healthiest season got here with the Magic in 2019-20, when he performed 72 video games (60 begins) and averaged 12.1 factors (46.5% capturing from the sector) and 5.1 assists in 27.7 minutes.
He missed a lot of the final two seasons due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that he suffered in January 2021, simply eight video games into that season.
After a 14-month absence, Fultz returned in a house win over the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 28 and averaged 10.8 factors (47.4% capturing), 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20 minutes (18 video games).
The Magic have gotten off to a 3-9 begin with out Fultz, in addition to a number of different gamers, sidelined coming into Friday’s dwelling recreation vs. the Phoenix Suns.
He’s appreciated what he’s seen from the crew regardless of the document and is raring to play once more whereas understanding he can’t rush it.
“Of course, I want to play but I don’t want to go out there, break it and then have to get surgery and sit out longer than now,” Fultz stated. “My largest factor now could be being good about and therapeutic all the way in which so I can play a full season with none extra hiccups. And not have any lingering ache.
“It’s tough with my competitive nature and seeing my brothers go out there and play the game, seeing where I can help at and seeing where I can go out there and be with them and not being able to do that. That’s probably the toughest part. I’m just waiting on my opportunity and supporting them any way I can while I’m off the court. When my time comes, best believe I’ll be ready.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com