Orlando Magic goalkeeper Markelle Fultz suffered a left-end ACL in Wednesday’s 105-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, Magic announced.
Less than five minutes into the game, a Fultz drive was interrupted by Cavs starter Isaac Okoro, and Fultz’s left knee bent without contact.
Fultz, choice no. 1 of the 2017 NBA Draft, he writhed in pain on the floor for a few minutes before being helped into a wheelchair.
Fultz posted a tweet later on Wednesday, writing in part, “God has a plan for me and I know this adversity will only make me stronger in the end.”
“I believe in my brothers on this team and we have much more to prove,” Fultz wrote in his tweet. “For all the fans. Keep riding with us. I will approach this recovery wholeheartedly and I will be the best teammate I can be in this organization. Faithful to grinding.”
Fultz signed a three-year extension with $ 50 million last month and finally showed the promise that made him a general election no. 1 while leading Magic to a fast start this season. He averaged the best 14.3 points in his career, along with 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in seven games.
Fultz was developed by the Philadelphia 76ers as part of their long reconstruction, but struggled for years with a hard-to-diagnose shoulder injury, eventually determined to be thoracic exit syndrome, a nerve condition that affected his feeling in his arm. and in the hand. He was replaced with Magic in February 2019.
“It’s a huge blow for us,” said Magic Magic center Nikola Vucevic, whose team will also be without striker Jonathan Isaac this season due to an ACL tear. “Unfortunately for [Fultz] this is really sad, because for two years he had a shoulder injury, then last year he finally got to play and this year had to be a big year for him. It was ready and the wonderful season began. This sucks for a guy like him who made his way back. It’s hard to see and you feel for the guy. “
Terrence Ross, who scored 20 points on the bench to lead the Magic, expressed confidence that Fultz would recover from his injury.
“If anyone can handle it, it’s Kelle,” Ross said. “He’s got a lion’s heart. He’s super talented. He’s always positive. I know he’ll be able to do it, and we’ve all got our backs and we’ll be here for him.
“You hate to see that, especially for a guy who had already fought so hard and was turning and spinning. Now that. It is one of those things that will make him stronger and he will come back from here. undoubtedly.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.