Why Markelle Fultz is the perfect late-game closer
Why Fultz excels
At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Fultz’s length at the point guard spot gives him a handful of unique advantages in isolation. Not only is he able to get his shot off above the outstretched arms of most defenders, but he’s able to contort his body and finish around the basket in ways not too many point guards can replicate.
Fultz combines that length with elite footwork, using long strides and crisp movements to zig and zag his way into shots — something that, even with his limited explosiveness, allows him to create space on a dime.
He also changes speeds incredibly well, which makes it difficult for defenders — especially those forced into mismatches — to time their contests.
Perhaps the best area of Fultz’s game is the pick-and-roll, in which he poses a myriad of different threats. While not always a purely isolation play, a simple screen is enough to give Fultz the room and momentum needed to make things happen with the ball in his hands.
He was a 41.3 percent shooter from deep last season, but also shot 43.8 percent from mid-range — with only 12.5 percent of those shots coming off of assists, according to Hoop-Math.
He glides into shots with a sense of control that rarely manifests in such a young guard prospect. That control is the reason why Fultz is so well-equipped for such a prominent role late in games — even in the earlier stages of his career.
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Poise isn’t something you see often with rookie point guards. Most players of Fultz’s ilk need time to comprehend just how far their athleticism can take them, while others make rushed and ill-advised decisions on the basis of inexperience alone.
Fultz didn’t show those problems at Washington. He elevated above his competition more often than not, while showcasing the type of fluid, mistake-free offensive repertoire that should translate into immediate success at the next level.
His turnover rate was high at times, but that can be attributed to volume and a lack of help more so than poor decision making. Control isn’t easy for young guards to master, and Fultz has already shown a knack for minimizing mistakes in an environment conducive to the exact opposite.