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Markelle Fultz: Putting the past behind him for good with the Magic

By Noah Terranova

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Markelle Fultz is looking more and more like his former self with the Orlando Magic

As a senior at DeMatha Catholic, Markelle Fultz was a five-star recruit ranked seventh by ESPN, fifth by Rivals, and third by Scouts. Fultz had over 20 Division 1 offers most noticeably from Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina, and Georgetown.

However, he would commit to the Washington Huskies, as they were the first school to have a real interest in Fultz.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Fultz had the size to play both guard positions. He was a great ball-handler, a good passer, a great shot-creator, and he made the game look easy. Almost every time he stepped on to the court for the Huskies he looked like the best player on the court. He had all the makings of the modern-day star guards like Damian Lillard and James Harden. Fultz often drew comparisons to former Washington Huskies Brandon Roy.

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Markelle Fultz was dominant as a freshman in college. He averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He would lead the team in points, and assists, while being second on the team in rebounds. His 23.2 points per game were the second-most in program history only behind the late great Bob Houberg’s 25.6 point per game output. He would be named First Team All Pac 12, and a Third Team All American. He was the only player on the entire team to be named All-Conference and All American.

The only knock against Fultz was that Washington wasn’t able to make the tournament as they went 9-22 on the season. However, it wasn’t viewed as much of a result of Fultz’s play as it was about Washington as a program.

The previous year Washington had a recruiting class that included three future first-round picks, Marquese Chriss, Dejounte Murray, and Matisse Thybulle. That team did not make the tournament.

Then, both Chriss and Murray would forgo the final three years of their eligibility to enter the 2016 NBA Draft. They also lost First Team All-Conference guard Andrew Andrews because the 2016 season was the final year of his eligibility. So by the time Markelle Fultz got to Washington, the program lost three key players.

Fultz was the consensus top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was viewed as a potential franchise player. And after 76ers moved up from the 3rd pick to the 1st pick, they would select Markelle Fultz first overall. He was supposed to be a part of a big 3 with Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid.

Markelle Fultz would average 12.5 points per game in the summer league. However, things would take a turn for the worst. Fultz jump shot seemed to be broken. He looked like it was painful for him to shoot a basketball. Although later on it would be revealed that Fultz had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which affected nerves in the shoulder and neck, which was a huge factor in Fultz not being able to shoot like he used to.

Fultz would only play in 14 games his rookies season averaging 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. The highlight of his rookie season was a triple-double on April 11th. It would make him the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.

In year two Fultz again was limited. This time only playing 19 games and averaging 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Midway through the season, he was traded to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons, and two draft picks. Fultz would not play a single game for the Magic that season.

The main problem with Fultz was that every jump shot he took was seen, memed, and talked about on social media. It more than likely took a toll on him mentally. He was the first overall pick, he had franchise player expectations, and now people were making fun of him for something that was out of his control. However, the signs he has shown in this small sample size is promising.

This season Fultz has shown promise in Orlando. Through the first three games of the season, he’s averaging 12.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He still is far from that prospect I saw at Washington. He’s far from that silky smooth teenage combo guard. He’s far from the 25-5-5 player I expected him to be at this point.

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However, the fact that he doesn’t seem scared anymore, seems more confident, and is more comfortable with the game is a promising sign that he can put the past behind him and have a long successful career.

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