Sixers GM: Fultz's shoulder soreness, muscle imbalance 'gone'

Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Markelle Fultz is doing much better and could return soon.

Sixers president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said the No. 1 pick is "progressing well" in his recovery from right shoulder soreness and scapular muscle imbalance.

"The good news is the soreness is completely gone and the muscle imbalance is gone," he said Thursday, as quoted by NBC Sports' Jessica Camerato.

Fultz, 19, has been on the shelf since late October with the problem, which compromised his shooting form. There was debate within the organization whether the injury caused the change in his mechanics directly or if he adjusted his form to work around it.

Regardless, the focus now is to retrain the affected muscles.

"It's also about getting in basketball condition and reworking a lot of those mechanisms, muscular and otherwise," said Colangelo, who added he's encouraged by Fultz's progress and anticipates "the end is near" in terms of his absence.

There's still no timetable for Fultz's return, though the team is expected to provide another medical update Friday. The prized rookie returned to the club this week after undergoing physical therapy in Kentucky, but has yet to practice.

Fultz averaged six points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over Philly's first four games. He shot 33.3 percent from the field and didn't attempt any 3-pointers in 76 total minutes. The 76ers have gone 12-8 in his absence, and sit eighth in the East.