76ers rookie Markelle Fultz to ‘come off the bench’ to start the season

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team in the Eastern Conference that may be on the rise heading into the 2017-18 NBA season. The struggling franchise has upgraded the roster with some promising young talent that could propel them into the playoffs come April.

One of the players many will be watching in Philadelphia is rookie Markelle Fultz formerly of the Washington Huskies. Fultz was taken with the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft with high expectations from the score-first point guard.

Although it was expected he’d be a starter right out of the gate like fellow rookie Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears Fultz’s career will begin off the bench, according to Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports.

Brown's plan is for Fultz to come off the bench to start the season. Pointed to the fact Fultz didn't played much in preseason.

— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) October 15, 2017

Apparently, Fultz has been dealing with some injury issues and has had some trouble with an altered form at the free-throw line. The shoulder issue appears to be the main area of concern and possibly the main reason the team isn’t willing to thrust him into the fire as a starter to begin his rookie campaign.

Along with Fultz, the 76ers will see the debut of Ben Simmons who is also getting his rookie season underway this year. Simmons sat out all of last year with a foot injury and will join Fultz and rising star Joel Embiid as the faces of the franchise moving forward.