The Philadelphia 76ers’ selection of Landry Shamet with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft was not met with universal praise. The choice was largely regarded as a reach by the Sixers, as the Shockers guard had been projected to go in the early-to-mid second round in most of the mock drafts floating around the greater NBA draftsphere. Many Sixers fans, myself included, lamented the team passing on a sliding Robert Williams, a feeling amplified when the hated rival Celtics snagged the Texas A&M big man with the very next pick.
Then, in his very first Summer League game, Shamet sprained his right ankle, yet another player in a long line of Sixers rookies to fall victim to the curse placed upon the franchise.