A deep dive into the cultural brilliance of the Markelle Fultz letter

The Philadelphia 76ers‘ culture is heading in the right direction, and Markelle Fultz‘s letter in the Players’ Tribune showed us exactly why.

Markelle Fultz seems excited to be a part of the Philadelphia 76ers. Or, to put it in his words, “Yooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Philadelphia 76ers

The latest first overall draft pick dropped his welcoming letter on Friday morning for the Players’ Tribune, expressing both his appreciation for Philadelphia fans as well as his excitement over what’s left to come. Fultz joins a gifted young core of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons on a Sixers squad that was already trending upwards last season. His basketball fit is undeniable, while the sheer star potential is as tantilizing as any combination in the league outside of Golden State and Cleveland.

But it’s culture that stood out most when reading Fultz’s piece. Not only the positivety surrounding the team’s improvement, but how they’ve maintained a solid support system in the midst of the league’s most grueling four-year rebuild.

A lot of that stemmed from Embiid. Fultz lauded Joel throughout the piece, dubbing him the Mayor of Philly, while saying that he’s the town’s “No. 1 spokesperson.” He went on to claim that Embiid had texted him 75 since his initial workout with the team, expressing his excitement about having Markelle join the team. Embiid’s first words to Fultz at that workout also hold true to the personality that has made him a consistent fan favorite in Philadelphia — Trust the Process.

Fultz also appreciated the most minute of details in regards to his workout. With a concert happening elsewhere in the city that morning, he was escorted by police to the training facility. He was then greeted by fans waiting to see him, while the Sixers — in perhaps their most meaningful gesture of all — had Chick-fil-A sandwiches waiting for Fultz upon his arrival.

He noted that Chick-fil-A was his “good luck charm,” and took a minor stab at Boston for not having a single location in the city. In case anybody’s counting like Markelle, Philadelphia has seven.

That’s a subtle detail with little tangible value long term. But that kind of hospitality, that kind of commitment to player satisfaction, is something any quality organization should strive for. The most precise of details can sway a player’s morale in any given direction, and the Sixers did their due dilligence in welcoming Fultz to the team — both as a fan base and as an organization.

The culture extends well beyond a table of chicken sandwiches, though. Fultz went on to note just how appreciative he was of the fact that Embiid, Simmons and Robert Covington had all made their way to the training facility to watch him work out. They were there for encouragement, and made the extra effort to form a connection in the process. Embiid told him what to trust, and any qualms Fultz had with Philadelphia were likely subsiding.

"“The workout was pretty normal, but the really cool thing about it was that Joel, Rob Covington and Ben Simmons were all watching from the sidelines. That made a big impact on me that they wanted to be there. I really appreciated that” — Players’ Tribune"

He went on to praise the supportive nature of his newfound teammates, something that once again ties back to Joel Embiid’s positivity. He recalled a Twitter video of Justin Anderson working out. Anderson was doing sled push-ups, and Embiid was alongside him shouting words of encouragement. For a 19-year-old about to take his next step with a professional organization, that’s the type of supportive backbone a team needs. It’s the type of backbone that helps support a winning culture.

He also praised Brett Brown’s coaching style, as well as the influence he had on the team’s personnel. Fultz noted their prior discussion on basketball philosophy, but pointed out that Brown had asked him a question that no other coach had thought to pose. He asked Markelle to draw up a series of plays based around a late-game scenario.

That was at the Combine, a time long enough ago to the point that Fultz didn’t remember the remainder of that discussion. Brown reminded him at the workout, though, that his initial question was “are we home or away?” It’s a response Brown himself has never gotten, and one that showed Fultz’s unique perception of the game.

Brown came away impressed, as did Fultz. Markelle’s mother did too, however, and that was perhaps the most important measuring stick for the youngster out of Washington. He made sure to emphasize the fact that his mother thought Brown genuinely cared about the development of his players. That’s the type of overarching impression that youngsters not only appreciate, but can use for motivation down the line.

"“But the most important thing that came out of our meeting was that my mom liked Coach. The next day she told me that she had a good feeling about him because it seemed like he really cared about developing his players. He had told her that he really believes in his players.And my mom believed him.” — Players’ Tribune"

The positives here are overwhelming. Even with a losing resume over the course of the past several seasons, Brett Brown has managed to scrap together a culture that supports belief. Embiid is an inspirational voice in the locker room, while Brown’s guidance has helped mold one of the league’s most tight-knit groups. The team simply believes in what’s going on within the organization.

It’s rare for teams with this much young talent to be as close as the Sixers currently are. Good chemistry is a definite benefit in the locker room, but it also translates to play on the floor. Guys are going to try harder, while ball movement only increases when teammates are comfortable with those around them on the floor. The Sixers have are an organization players are excited to be a part of now.

That wasn’t the case a few years back.

Next: Reacting to the Sixers' draft picks

As the fruits of The Process ripen and Markelle Fultz adds the tertiary piece to a powerful young triad, this is a Sixers squad whose culture could prove integral in pushing them towards the top of the Eastern Conference.