Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz still has the opportunity to be a very good NBA player

Despite all the injuries Philadelphia 76ers rookie Markelle Fultz dealt with to begin his NBA career, the former University of Washington standout still has all the potential to be one of the best young players in the NBA

When the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, it looked like another vital piece that would be added to an exciting Sixers team.

Fultz had a relatively decent debut in the NBA summer league, then went down with a mysterious shoulder injury that has kept him out for most of this season.

Fultz has now played about ten games since March 19th and is showing glimpses of why he was the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He’s playing about 17.6 minutes per game while averaging 6.5 points per contest.

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Simmons and Fultz duo

On Tuesday against Brooklyn, we got a look at the future of the backcourt for Philly. Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were both on the court together, and the way the two were using each other was very nice to see. Both of them aren’t three-point shooters; Fultz just took his first 3-point attempt last night after almost 10 games.

Simmons isn’t a sharpshooter either. He seldom takes shots from downtown. It’s important that these two have guys who can drain from long range around them on the court. Regardless of their lack of three-point shooting ability, they both can impact the game in so many ways whether it’s scoring on their own in the paint or dishing the ball off for assists.

Fultz has been impressive since he’s come back from injury. For the most part, he has been the backup for Simmons except for the odd time where they have been on the court together. When they are on the hardwood at the same time, it’s a glimpse into an exciting future for the Sixers.

What the future holds

For Fultz right now, I think it’s more important that he gets consistent minutes each game. He is playing well enough to possibly get some time on the floor come playoffs, but that’s no certainty yet. For now, though, the numbers aren’t what’s important for Fultz. It’s about feeling comfortable on the court again. He’s already showing why he was the number one overall pick last year.

Fultz has shown the potential he has with that explosive first step off the dribble and the ability to weave through opponents to get to the rim. His shot looks normal again after some complications with the jumper when he was rehabbing the shoulder injury.

In his first game back since October, he honestly looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. He dropped ten points and had eight assists against the Wizards. He flashed his great handles and that 6-foot-9 wingspan, using his length to get to the rim all night long.

That’s exactly what we’ve seen from Fultz so far since his return. I like his game because he doesn’t take many low percentage shots. He always tries to get into the paint for a jumper or a layup at the rim. Obviously, once he gets more comfortable he will start to take more 3’s like he did last year at Washington. For now, though, his game looks very good for someone who hadn’t played in a game since October.

Next: Could the Wizards play spoiler come playoff time?

Just a few months ago, there were people saying he was a bust and has a broken jump shot. Fultz has proved the doubters wrong and is slowly looking like the type of player he was last year at the University of Washington. Turning into a star isn’t the goal right now for the 19-year old. It’s about getting back into the groove of things. He will definitely add some extra firepower off the bench for Philly come playoff time too if they need it, especially if Joel Embiid misses extended time.

It’s just a matter of time until Markelle Fultz reaches his full potential in the NBA. He’s getting his feet wet at this level, and the future certainly looks bright for the former first overall pick.