Ben Simmons isn't the the only Philadelphia 76er that's working on improving his jump shot this offseason. Second-year Sixers guard Markelle Fultz was ridiculed all last season because of the mysterious decline of his shooting stroke last season. Fultz was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, put performed well below his expectations.
According to Derek Bodner of The Athletic, Fultz has put up over 150,000 shots over the summer to prepare for the 2018-19 season.
Brown says Fultz has put up about 150k shots over the summer in his work with Drew Hanlen. Says he's been confident and seeking out shots since returning to the Sixers gym these last few weeks.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 18, 2018
Markelle Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in his lone season at Washington. He also shot 41.3 percent from behind the arc. However, he was never a great free throw shooter. He only made 64.9 percent of his free throws in his college career.
The Sixers made it a point to try and adjust Fultz's release point on his shot. Somewhere along the way, Fultz suffered an undisclosed shoulder injury that destroyed his shot mechanics. He would go on to only play in 14 games his rookie season. He averaged 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He shot gained a hideous hitch that prevented him from making a single 3-point bucket the entire year.
Drew Hanlen is one of the best basketball trainers in the business, and reports say Fultz has regained his confidence. If he can get his outside shot back, his length and quickness will help the 76ers put a more formidable starting lineup on the court in 2018. The process worked well on Simmons and Joel Embiid, so it's not time to give up on Fultz just yet.
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