Saving the best for last
And Markelle Fultz will deliver an NBA debut which will rival that of both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. After all, this is noth the first time the Philadelphia 76ers have benched their top-pick for nearly an entire season. As a matter of fact, the only player since the 2013 arrival of Nerlens Noel to NOT be benched for a full season was Jahlil Okafor. And that did not end the way the Sixers had hoped.
Still good things are happening. And it’s all due to the fact that this team has been patient, cast a wide net, let young players grow, and timed their development to arrive to this point in time. At the very least, four of the five starters on the Philadelphia 76ers were home grown. And if not for the delay to Markelle Fultz, this team starting five are Philadelphia-drafted.
Delays to the court allow extra coaching and maturity
The pattern of highly touted rookies redshirting a season for the Philadelphia 76ers has some enviable side effects. The delay allows coaches to work extra time with the player. Joel Embiid surely benefitted from it. Ben Simmons did as well. Right now, Markelle Fultz is getting the extra time. And for all the talk of busted shots, muscular imbalance, and scapular pain, he looks ready to go. In fact, he looks better and more comfortable than ever.
Now for the latest on Markelle Fultz pic.twitter.com/DMjxFyu3sM
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) March 13, 2018
But that is the gymnasium. How he translates on the NBA basketball court on game day is the real test. Unfortunately the answer will wait.