Markelle Fultz: a rising star or a bust?

On July 12, 2013, the future of Markelle Fultz, then only a fifteen-year-old graduating from his freshmen year of high school, was completely changed. On that day, a trade occurred between the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets, including MVP players, two all-star players, and a few best bench players of the year. The Brooklyn Nets received thirty-seven-year-old former MVP Kevin Garnett, thirty-seven-year-old former final MVP Paul Pierce, and thirty-seven-year-old former bench players of the year, Jason Terry and D.J. White. The Boston Celtics, on the other hand, acquired thirty-two-year-old former all-star Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, and Keith Bogans, three first-round picks for 2014, 2016, and 2018, plus the right to swap first-rounders in 2017. On June 19, the Philadelphia 76ers exchanged their 3rd overall pick and a future 1st round pick for Boston Celtics’ 1st overall pick.

June 22, 2017 was the biggest day for the young basketball players awaiting an NBA team to draft them. On this day, the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Markelle Fultz with their 1st overall pick. The 76ers picked Markelle Fultz to work alongside Ben Simmons who was the first overall pick in 2016, one year before Fultz. Fultz had a 47.6% field goal percentage, and a 41.3% 3 point percentage (best 3 point shooter in the league following Stephen Curry who has a 43.7% 3 point accuracy, only 2.4% better than Fultz) in his college years. The 76ers needed him to balance with Ben Simmons who is an awful shooter compared to other all-star level point guards.

Markelle Fultz was the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, but two other players really stood out during the years they played – 3rd overall pick Jayson Tatum and 27th overall Kyle Kuzma. Jayson Tatum is currently the starting power forward for the Boston Celtics while Kyle Kuzma is a starting power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. Tatum averages a solid 16.3 points and 6.6 boards, and Kuzma averages an even better 16.6 points with an addition of 5.3 boards. However, the first overall Fultz only averages 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. Fultz is suffering from a right wrist injury and also an injured shoulder right now. These factors limit his shooting abilities, which was one of the main reason he was drafted, causing multiple sports news agencies to question and criticize his ability as a first pick overall. His agent, Raymond Brothers, announced that Fultz would not participate in practice or games until the apparent shoulder injury was evaluated. Looking at his stats, how the press and the outer world sees him, he could become the next Greg Oden, a former first pick overall who became a huge disappointment due to injuries. Does Markelle Fultz still have a chance, or has the young star fallen before having the chance to rise?

Featured Image – Markelle Fultz scoring against the Charlotte Hornets Courtesy of Kent Smith

by Andy Kim