The Philadelphia 76ers selected Markelle Fultz first overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, and everything has been just thoroughly wretched for the kid ever since. After a couple of months in Philly, he had ceased to be the spunky, graceful, sharp-shooting guard he seemed to be at Washington. Rather, he seemed to be a human doing an impression of an alien being who had just been introduced to spherical objects, nets, and the presence of human limbs. He pump fakes free throws; he looks happy doing everything except the very thing that he’s paid to do;’ he inspires despair in even the most casual viewer.

J. Cole is particularly bummed out by all this. On “a lot,” the first song on 21 Savage’s new album i am > i was, Cole addresses the injured basketball man directly:

I pray for Markelle ’cause they fucked up his shot
Just want you to know that you got it, my nigga
Though I never met you, I know that you special
And that the Lord blessed you, don’t doubt it, my nigga

Noisey endorses this message. May the young basketball man once again shoot the ball with confidence and abandon.

Alex Robert Ross is, like Drake, a basketball enthusiast. Follow him on Twitter.