Philadelphia 76ers: What is Markelle Fultz’s NBA ceiling?

A former No. 1 pick, what is Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz’s ceiling.

Coming out of college, Markelle Fultz was the consensus No. 1 pick, and the only player that had no holes in his game. He was rated so highly because of his unique ability to score the basketball in many ways, with a rare talent in changing speeds while attacking the rim and making plays. His length and athleticism equip him with all the tools to become a more-than-viable perimeter defender in the league.

Obviously, Markelle has had some obstacles during his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers.  A mystifying shoulder injury (a muscular imbalance) that seemingly came out of nowhere sidelined him, causing him to visibly alter his shooting form. Now, after a summer working with shot coach Drew Hanlen, we have to wonder how good he could really be once he gets his feet underneath him again.

This brings us to the question: what is Markelle Fultz’s ceiling in the NBA? To answer this, we have to look at his size, his talents and abilities, and comparable players that are in or were in the NBA.

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First, his size. Fultz is listed at 6-foot-4, but recent pictures from a workout session in which he is standing next to Jason Taytum suggest he has grown an inch or two. He has a 6-foot-9 inch wingspan, which allows him to disrupt passing lanes to get deflections and helps his overall perimeter defense. He can move quickly laterally, and his end to end of the court speed is sufficient. He is incredibly athletic, able to perform gravity-defying dunks over defenders and in the open court. Perhaps the most enticing trait, however, is that he is still only 20 years old.

Fultz was touted so highly coming out of the University of Washington because he was the perfect comboguard for the NBA. He has the ability to be a legitimate starting point guard, but he may thrive more as a shooting guard. He has very good playmaking ability, averaging nearly six assists per game in college. We saw flashes of his court vision in the limited time he saw the court last season, especially in his triple-double game.

He has good speed, and has all the tools to become a very good perimeter defender. He can attack the rim at will, dunking or hanging in the air to lay it up acrobatically with great finishing ability.

His signature ‘herky-jerky’ play style on offense keeps opposing guards guessing whether he’s going to drive the rim or pull up in an instant, a term coined by Kevin Durant as a “hesi pull-up Jimbo.”

Perhaps his most valuable asset is his shooting ability, as he shot over 41 percent from three-point land, as well as 48 percent overall. The only question mark was his free-throw shooting, which was at 65 percent at Washington, but that will come in time.

If his summer with Hanlen has been as successful as the shooting coach has teased it has been, the league will see why this kid was the No. 1 overall pick two years ago. This brings us to our last point, his comparable players. Fultz has often been compared to a couple of the game’s best shooting guards, in the likes of Dwyane Wade and James Harden.

Size-wise, at 6-foot-4, around 200 pounds, D-Wade and Fultz are very similar in size. They also have very similar play styles, as Wade had the ‘herky-jerky’ hesitance on offense where it seems as if he’s playing in slow-motion. With Fultz’s jumper back to normal, he could very well be on a trajectory similar to that of Dwyane Wade’s, which would ultimately be a Hall of Fame-level career.

He also compares nicely to James Harden, who is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. Harden’s play on offense and his iso playmaking ability reminds me of Fultz at Washington with their abilities to attack the rim, kick it out, or pull up on a dime to take a jumper. Both Wade and Harden are all-time greats, and if Fultz comes anywhere near them when it is all said and done, I think all Philly fans would be happy.

So, just how high is Markelle Fultz’s ceiling in the NBA? Well, it’s somewhere between James Harden and Dwyane Wade. Somewhere between perennial All-Star and bona fide superstar. Somewhere between career starting shooting guard and first option in the Sixers’ offense.

Fultz’s ceiling is very, very high, and will be dictated solely by him. He’s in the perfect environment to grow, as he’s not yet the first or second option on offense, and thus will have the ability to come into his own on his own time. His team won over 50 games without him last season, and with him playing at a high level, will only look to improve and win the East.

Fultz’s ceiling is not the roof. It is the sky.