Third-year point guard Markelle Fultz has been turning heads and raising eyebrows with his solid performance through the early part of the 2018-19 NBA season, making the Orlando Magic look better after acquiring the former Philadelphia 76ers No. 1 overall draft pick from 2017 last February. Magic head coach Steve Clifford is complimentary of Fultz's early play.
Per the Orlando Sentinel's Roy Parry on Twitter, the second-year Orlando coach called the 21-year-old Fultz a “good all-around player.”
“In many ways, I just think he’s a good all-around player because he has a feel for the game. He’s a terrific passer and his ability to get into the paint and have a feel for where everybody is is very unique.”
Steve Clifford on where PG Markelle Fultz is most effective: “In many ways, I just think he’s a good all-around player because he has a feel for the game. He’s a terrific passer and his ability to get into the paint and have a feel for where everybody is is very unique.”
— Roy Parry (@RoyParryIII) November 5, 2019
Fultz's professional basketball journey has been extremely strange and winding, and finding himself in a position to succeed in central Florida seemed quite the opposite of the intended trajectory when he was selected first overall by the Sixers in June 2017 after a one-and-done season with the Washington Huskies.
After suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome, which could explain terrible shooting form and flawed mechanics, Fultz's career was rejuvenated when Philly sent him for Jonathon Simmons and two draft picks.
Since then Fultz has garnered admiration for his ability to persevere through adversity and redefine his career with a new team. He has only started in one game in six appearances during the 2019-20 season, but Fultz is averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 assists in 23.2 minutes per game.
Fultz is the latest NBA project and perceived “bust” that appears to be headed in the right direction after early labeling.
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