{"id":18016,"date":"2018-12-17T15:50:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T20:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=18016"},"modified":"2019-03-06T13:45:01","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T18:45:01","slug":"the-markelle-fultz-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/12\/17\/the-markelle-fultz-saga\/","title":{"rendered":"The Markelle Fultz Saga"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s no secret that Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> guard Markelle Fultz<\/a><\/strong> isn’t currently playing. There are murky circumstances surrounding\u00a0Fultz’s hiatus. However, Fultz has long since been an enigma to basketball fans throughout the nation.<\/p>\n

The Markelle Fultz Saga<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The DeMatha Debacle<\/h2>\n

While at the famed DeMatha Catholic High School, Fultz’s rise was anything but expected. Fultz’s sophomore season saw him play with the junior varsity team. According to DeMatha assistant coach Corey McCrae<\/a>, Fultz was cut due to his unique gait. \u201cHe almost looked like Bambi,\u201d McCrae said<\/a>. \u201cHe was long and lanky, and he\u2019d walk and his knees would be hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Imagine in this day and age that a player is marginalized because of his stride pattern, not his skillset. However, in his junior season (first with varsity), Fultz played his way into a national ranking. As a senior, Fultz continued his transcendent rise up the national rankings, eventually becoming the 5th ranked shooting guard in the Class of 2016.<\/p>\n

College Recruitment<\/h3>\n

It was University of Washington Assistant Coach Raphael Chillious who noticed Fultz on the JV team while scouting the varsity team. Chillious told head coach Lorenzo Romar<\/a><\/strong>, \u201cYou\u2019re going to call me crazy, but I\u2019m watching a JV kid right now, and if he grows, he\u2019s not an NBA player, he\u2019s an NBA All-Star.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Fultz chose to play his college ball at the University of Washington. Washington was the only team that openly scouted Fultz throughout the entirety of his junior and senior years in high school.<\/p>\n

Fultz explained why he chose the University of Washington.\u00a0“The main reason I am going to Washington is my connection with Coach Romar,” said Fultz<\/a>. “I trust his plan for me, I feel like I fit into their system, and I know he can help me develop my game. He has coached guys that have made it to the NBA, and that’s where I want to be someday.”<\/p>\n

“I am so close to Coach Chillious that we don’t even talk about basketball,” Fultz also said.<\/p>\n

Days of Washington Wizardry<\/h2>\n

As a Washington player, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists per game, while shooting and Effective Field Goal percentage (eFG) of 53.5. A 6’4 point guard with a 6’9 wingspan, Fultz was a scoring and playmaking machine. Though Fultz left NBA scouts and fans salivating for more, playing in the Pacific Northwest ultimately didn’t help. Unfortunately, Washington amassed a record of 9 wins and 22 losses. Fultz was omitted from either the All-American first or second teams.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/lambo_petey\/status\/803686671543889921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E803686671543889921&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fcollege-basketball%2Fnews%2Fmarkelle-fultz-has-been-stellar-so-why-isnt-washington-a-better-team%2F<\/p>\n

The Rocky Transition to the NBA<\/h2>\n

Leading up to the 2017 NBA draft, there was evidence that Fultz was aware of certain comments made about him also. \u201cThey\u2019d say, \u2018He\u2019s not a team player and he cares about scoring first,\u2019 \u201d Fultz said<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s just funny because anybody that watches or knows me knows I\u2019m going to try to get someone else the ball first. Some people say I pass too much.\u201d This could have been viewed as a potential red flag for NBA decision-makers. But it wasn’t.<\/p>\n

The top teams all wanted to interview and work out the top players. The Boston Celtics<\/a> held the first overall pick. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge<\/a><\/strong> knew he had All-NBA point guard in Isaiah Thomas<\/a><\/strong> who he later traded<\/a> for superstar Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/strong>. Days prior to the draft Ainge traded the first overall pick<\/a> to the 76ers for the third overall selection and a 2019 first round pick. The 76ers drafted Fultz and thus as the Bible says “began the beginning of sorrow”.<\/p>\n

Rocky Rookie Season<\/h2>\n
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Interesting how dramatically different Markelle Fultz's FT stroke looks here compared to @ UW (65%). Has lowered release point considerably. pic.twitter.com\/6REIFX0qtR<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) September 28, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n