Brett Brown Talks Markelle Fultz's Shot After Videos of Form, Struggles Surface

Markelle Fultz has ramped up his participation in practice, but the Philadelphia 76ers are still unsure when he'll return to the floor as he continues to struggle with shoddy shooting mechanics following a recovery from scapular muscle imbalance. 

Speaking to reporters at practice on Sunday, head coach Brett Brown admitted Fultz's shot remains a work-in-progress. 

"How would I assess where his shot is currently at? It's not where it used to be," he said, according to NJ.com's Zack Rosenblatt. "It's not where it used to be. His free throw, I think, is. But some of the longer shots and the rise-ups are not and that's just part of him getting through this, sort of, progressive adjustment, trying to figure out the injury going forward."

Brown was asked if Fultz needed to be fully healthy to return to action, with the coach responding: "I think what he needs to be is able to shoot a basketball.”

Brown's comments came on the same day several reporters relayed videos of Fultz misfiring on several shots at practice: 

Fultz has been a regular presence at practice since the new year, and the Sixers relayed a highlight package of the No. 1 overall pick on Jan. 2 that indicated he could be close to making a comeback: 

However, the team hasn't provided detailed updates and has yet to peg a specific date for Fultz's return despite his participation in five-on-five practices. 

"I think there still is some [discomfort] from time to time, and he would be able to answer that better, but it's my understanding that there is," Brown said, according to PhillyVoice's Kyle Neubeck. "I think that's part of recognizing there's still some sort of erratic shooting that it's not where it used to be, yet. And I hope everybody writes that 'yet."

Fultz, who has been sidelined since Oct. 25, averaged 6.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting from the field in four games before he hit the shelf.