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Magic's Markelle Fultz fractures big toe, return timeline unknown

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 07: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on April 07, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Markelle Fultz, guard for the Orlando Magic, has fractured the big toe on his left foot while participating in a preseason workout.

The Magic announced Fultz's injury on Sunday morning. He's currently wearing a walking boot, but surgery is not needed to repair the fracture. Despite that good news, the Magic have not put a timeline on Fultz's return. That will be determined by how he responds to rehab and treatment.

The timing of the injury means Fultz could miss all of training camp, and possibly the start of the regular season. A broken toe typically takes at least four weeks to heal, and Magic training begins on Sept. 27, with the regular season starting on Oct. 18.

This is obviously not how the 24-year-old Fultz wanted to start the season, especially since he's missed so much time over the past few years due to injury. He was able to start the 2020-21 season, but played just eight games before going down with a torn ACL. He returned 14 months later and played in 18 games to finish the season, averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 assists.

Even before that, Fultz had injury woes. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2017 draft, but ended up playing a grand total of just 33 games over two seasons due to a shoulder injury that affected his shooting. The Sixers ended up trading Fultz to the Magic in February 2019, and in the next season he played 72 games for Orlando, starting 60. The Magic signed him to a three-year, $50 million extension in Dec. 2020.