Markelle Fultz was once a highly touted draft prospect with an incredible future ahead of him. Now, he's out of the NBA entirely, and everyone is asking one question. What happened to Markelle Fultz?
Oct 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz (20) dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Fultz was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. The Philadelphia 76ers selected him ahead of All-NBA talents and stars that still impact the game today. Players like Jayson Tatum , Donovan Mitchell , De'Aaron Fox, and many more. Looking back, you'd think they are crazy, but at the time it made all the sense in the world.
Fultz was the consensus number one draft pick entering the cycle. A 6'5 guard with elite physical tools. He was explosive getting to the rim and, ready for this, had a steady jumpshot that was NBA-ready. His primary NBA draft comparisons were James Harden and D'Angelo Russell.
Fultz had his career quickly impacted by a shoulder injury that forced him to miss all but 14 games during his rookie year. This injury would be the one that derailed everything.
Fultz apparently fell off his bike in Philly in what was seemingly a harmless accident during his first off-season. He went into his rookie season with a banged-up shoulder, not knowing what it would mean for his NBA career.
Fultz was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) . It is essentially nerve damage that can cause numbness and/or pain between the shoulder and neck.
This injury made it so that Fultz literally could not lift his arms above his head. His jumpshot was no longer a thing, and his shooting mechanics were drastically changed to try to make up for this.
Jan 10, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Fultz averaged 7.7 points a night with the Sixers. He ended up playing just two seasons in Philadelphia (33 games) before being traded to the Orlando Magic for Jonathan Simmons.
Fultz found a majority of his NBA success in Orlando, but that is not saying much. He played five years with the Magic, averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 assists. He did earn a three-year contract extension during this time, earning him $50 million.
Once his Magic career was over in 2024, things looked bleak. He was a free agent for a majority of the 2024-25 NBA season before the Sacramento Kings called. They signed him to a deal for the remainder of the season, and he played in 21 games for the team. He wasn't re-signed at the end of the season, leading to another point if unknown for Fultz.
Last season, he signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors . This went so poorly that it is now expected to be his final NBA stop. He shot lower than 20% from the field in five games.
His NBA career appears over at the age of 27, something no one could've predicted before the 2017 draft. He ends up with a 28% three point percentage and just two seasons with more than four total threes made.
Sep 25, 2017; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz (20), center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Ben Simmons (25) pose for a photo during media day at Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Fultz was an electric guard ready to lead the 76ers into the next era. A major piece towards completing " the process " turned out to be another victim of that very process. Now, he waits and sees if someone calls his phone with another opportunity to extend his NBA career. A shocking career path for an extremely exciting college player.
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