There was a time when Washington Husky teenager Markelle Fultz was unanimously considered the top prospect of the 2017 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 combo guard was wowing scouts, executives, and basketball fans with his elite combination of size, length, athleticism, and all-around ball skills, during his team's 2016-17 NCAA run.
The Philadelphia 76ers were convinced that he was a can't-miss talent that they swapped picks with the Boston Celtics and even mortgaged their future by throwing another potential lottery pick. The Sixers were sure that he was the perfect player at the point guard position that gives them versatility along with playmaking forwards' Ben Simmons and Dario Saric.
Unfortunately, the one-and-done guard started slipping by September in which he suddenly altered his shooting form and mechanics (although reports indicate that it has been in the works since summer), possibly attributed to a chronic shoulder injury – which later sidelined him for 68 games.
During that span, the rest of the 2017 NBA rookie class started to strut their wares. There's his fellow teammate Ben Simmons, obviously. Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell has been consistently incredible and could very well be a co-Rookie of the Year, if ever the media ends up being tied again. Dallas Mavericks' Dennis Smith Jr. is also turning heads, ditto with the Los Angeles Lakers duo of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, and even the Phoenix Suns' Josh Jackson went on a tear several times.
Fultz was relegated to an afterthought and with many questioning his status as the number one selection. Even Sixers legend, Julius Erving, thought so – telling ESPN's Get Up show that the Celtics' Jayson Tatum probably should have been first.
Fultz responded to this statement citing he's the number one pick for a reason.
.@MarkelleF to @phillysport on Dr.J saying #Celtics' Jayson Tatum probably should have been No.1 pick: " I proved why I should be the No.1 pick in college and they drafted me as the No. 1 pick. Now, I'm here. All I can do is improve and keep moving from here. That's all it is."
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) May 4, 2018
Now healthy and playing off the bench, we could expect the rookie to bounce back on his sophomore season and prove the naysayers wrong.
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