In June 2017, the Philadelphia 76ers selected guard Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick of the NBA Draft after a trade with the Boston Celtics to get the top selection.
Widely considered the best player in his class at the time, Fultz was expected to make a major impact on a Sixers team that already featured young talents such as Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
However, a mysterious shoulder injury limited Fultz to just 14 games during his rookie campaign, and last season, he played in just 19 contests before being dealt to the Orlando Magic in February.
Article Continues BelowNow, Fultz will face Philadelphia as an opponent when the Magic face the Sixers on Wednesday night. The 21-year-old insists he harbors no ill will toward his former club:
“It’s all a business, so it’s no grudge hold or nothing like that, but there’s definitely going to be an edge of, ‘This is who I am, this is who you drafted,'” said Fultz, according to John Denton of the Magic's team website. “When I’m out there it’s no grudge and I’m trying to win. I’m doing whatever I can to win. If I get the W that will satisfy that grudge match for me. If I don’t get the win, I didn’t win in my eyes. So, that’s my goal – to go out there and get the win and have fun.”
In 10 games with Orlando this season, Fultz is averaging 9.7 points, 3.1 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals over 23.5 minutes per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from 3-point range and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Winning isn't something the Magic have been doing a whole lot of this season, as they are entering their matchup with the 76ers at 3-7.