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The Philadelphia 76ers will start Markelle Fultz instead of J.J. Redick tonight in the team's preseason opener against the Australian professional team Melbourne United.
Sixers' head coach Brett Brown told reporters pregame Fultz could begin the regular season as the starter as well, although that is not set in stone yet.
Markelle Fultz will start in place of JJ Redick tonight.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) September 28, 2018
Brown says Fultz being in the starting lineup to start the season is a definite possibility. Nothing is set in stone, and he’s had talks with both Fultz and Redick who are on board with whatever their roles might be.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) September 28, 2018
As everyone knows, Markelle Fultz had one of the strangest rookie seasons in recent memory. He was sidelined most of the year with scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder. Fultz played in just 14 games during the 2017-18 campaign, averaging 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 40.5 percent from the field.
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Renowned shooting coach Drew Hanlen worked with Fultz this summer to help the former No. 1 overall pick rediscover his shooting stroke. Hanlen said earlier this offseason that Fultz had the case of the yips, which played a big part in Fultz’s unorthodox shooting mechanics last season.
Fultz will join Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid in the Sixers' starting lineup. Philadelphia is optimistic Fultz has regained his confidence. The guard has the potential to be a big addition to a team that is expected to be one of the top three squads in the Eastern Conference.
Fultz put on a show in his lone year of college basketball at The University of Washington. The 6-foot-4 combo guard averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from beyond the arc. With Simmons and Embiid as the main cogs on offense, Fultz won't be asked to score 20 points per game. As the third option, scoring between 12 and 15 points a night is feasible for Fultz.
Fultz also gives the Sixers another ball handler and player who can create his own shot off the dribble and get to the basket. All eyes will be on the second-year guard tonight to see if he's improved from last year.
