Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall have that itch.
The two point guards, who are both rehabbing from torn right ACLs, admitted before the Sixers' game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday they would like to return to game action sooner rather than later.
“My knee is feeling great,” Wroten said. “I’m very close — super close. They say December, but I want to come back earlier.”
“I’m ready to go,” Marshall said. “I want to be out there with my team. I want to help in every way I can.”
For now, the duo will continue with the team’s cautious rehab plan of drills and small scrimmages until they reach full health.
"There hasn’t been any setbacks. I’m on a good path," Marshall said. "I’m feeling good. I’m getting to where I want to go, but I guess it’s just getting over that last hump. I think soon enough I’ll be out there."
“I just follow what they give me — two-on-two right now, so that's what I'm doing,” Wroten explained.
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Wroten suffered his injury back in January and underwent surgery on Feb. 3. At the time, he was averaging career highs in points (16.9), assists (5.2), steals (1.6) and minutes (29.8) per game.
Marshall put up 4.2 points and 3.1 assists in 14.9 minutes a night for the Milwaukee Bucks last season before going down in January as well. He had surgery one day after Wroten on Feb. 4.
Watching undrafted rookie T.J. McConnell thrive so far this season has certainly motivated Wroten and Marshall to suit up even sooner. Until that happens, the veterans are locked into passing along tips to the team’s younger guards.
"I'm definitely still trying to be a voice. Any time Nik (Stauskas) messes up, I make sure to let him know," Marshall said joking with Stauskas who was seated nearby. "I try to be that voice, though. I still try to help as much as I can, as well as I'm still learning. I'll feed off him as well. If T.J. and Nik see something out there, I'll ask them what is it that you see out there, why did you do this?"