Markelle Fultz is (still) going to be really good

By Christopher Kline | Apr 5, 2018

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 4: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on April 4, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Markelle Fultz is making the Philadelphia 76ers remember why they took him with the No. 1 overall pick.

This season has been a whirlwind for Markelle Fultz and his supporters. After breezing through his lone collegiate season as the consensus No. 1 prospect, the Philadelphia 76ers made the (understandable) decision to move up and draft him with the first pick. He was hailed as the last piece to their rapidly-developing puzzle.

Then, everything went to crap. Fultz looked good in a brief Summer League stint, but never returned to form after that. He showed up to training camp with a broken free throw stroke and a sudden inability to space the floor. The man who garnered James Harden comparisons had essentially forgetten how to shoot.

Fast forward almost six months and Fultz has made his return to the floor, spending 15-20 minutes per game operating as Ben Simmons‘ backup. Outside of a quarter-ending attempt against Detroit on Wednesday night (which he missed), Fultz hasn’t attempted a three.

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Still, even after all that Fultz has gone through, both mentally and physically, he’s showing why the Sixers moved up to draft him in the first place. He’s not nearly the player we all watched at Washington last season, but he’s showing flashes. For a 19-year-old getting his first extended taste of NBA action, that’s all you can expect.

Fultz remains a killer long-term prospect. His physical tools jump out on screen, with his 6-9 wingspan being especially evident on the defensive end. He isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he’s fully capable of playing downhill and getting above the rim when the opportunity presents itself.

Even without a reliable jumper, Fultz has picked teams apart as a facilitator. He’s remarkably in-control for somebody with minimal experience. His poise was always impressive at U.W., and he’s already translating that to the NBA level.

He’s a shifty ball handler, using an impressive change-of-pace ability to keep defenders on their heels and get into the paint. He makes advanced passes look routine, whether it be a drop-off pass in traffic or whipping a bounce pass from the perimeter to the block through multiple layers of traffic.

That ball handling makes him a dynamic scorer as well. He’s still learning his spots and getting comfortable with his mid-range jumper, but he’s already capable of contorting his body and finishing at tough angles around the rim.

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When he does take mid-range pull-ups, they look good. His release could be quicker, but he’s starting to get into a rhythm. He isn’t strictly an at-rim scorer, which is a massive upgrade over what we saw early in the season.

Even the simple fact that he was willing to pull the trigger on that end-of-quarter three against Detroit is promising. The form wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. It didn’t go in, but it’s workable. He has plenty of time to improve in that respect.

All of his offensive growth has come with some promising flashes on the defensive end as well. Much like Ben Simmons, Fultz was a bad college defender who had all the tools needed to changes that perception in the NBA.

His effort was lacking at Washington, but that’s understandble for a five-star freshman who views his college experience as a stepping stone more than anything else. His length and instincts allow him to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers when he’s engaged.

As somebody who stressed defense on a regular basis in Summer League, his strides aren’t much of a surprise. He always had the tools and the talent, it was just a matter of committing. He averaged over a steal and block per game in college.

Fultz still isn’t the player most people expected entering the season, and he might never reach that Harden-esque level some projected. But he’s undeniably talented, and there are several pundits — most notably ESPN‘s Mike Schmitz — who would still take him first overall if the draft happened today.

That’s over names like Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Lonzo Ball.

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It might take some time, but Fultz is going to be a really solid player for the Sixers. He’s still somebody they can build around, which is saying something for a team that’s on the cusp of 50 wins.