Markelle Fultz plans to immortalize his Wednesday night performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Orlando Magic guard posted a 21-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double over LeBron James and company.
While Fultz has had another triple-double in his career (had one at the end of his rookie year with the Philadelphia 76ers), this one holds a special place, as it signifies his full return to action and the extent of his capabilities — ones that help topple the Western Conference's best.
Fultz revealed how he's going to commemorate this performance after the game:
“My jersey from the triple-double,” Markelle Fultz told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “I need that, for sure. It's a milestone, something great and I'm going to hang it up. I'm pretty hard on myself, but every once in a while I got to enjoy the moments when I'm doing good and keep going.”
Not long ago, Fultz was mired as a what-could-have-been type of player, hampered by a shoulder injury that wouldn't go away for his first two seasons. Now he has taken on this season with the Magic fully healthy, getting to experience what it's like to play a full season and reaping the positives from it.
Fultz had a message for all his critics:
“What I've been through, it just gives me more fire to keep going,” Markelle Fultz said after the game. “I put in a lot of hard work to be where I'm at. I've been through a lot, but I never gave up.
“So, it just shows for people out there, whoever is doubting you, whoever is doing something [to you], put something on your mind and if you have something on your mind, go do it. Don't ever let somebody tell you that you can't and I'm never going to stop. I'm going to keep working until I can't play no more.”
Markelle Fultz is averaging 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on the season — a solid bounce-back effort for a player many had left for dead after his first two years battling his shoulder injury.
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