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Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Markelle Fultz at No. 1 in 2017
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- Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Markelle Fultz at No. 1 in 2017
With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.
The Sixers entered the 2017 draft on a high note. Joel Embiid was finally able to play in the 2016-17 season and showed off the immense talent and potential that the team was banking on and Ben Simmons was ready to make his debut after missing the entire season.
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The Sixers then traded up from No. 3 to No. 1 in a deal with the Boston Celtics to select Markelle Fultz out of Washington. He averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 41.3% from deep as a freshman with the Huskies.
The Fultz era in Philadelphia was strange, to say the least. He suffered through a bizarre shoulder injury and was later diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome which limited him to just 33 games across two seasons with the Sixers. Injuries limited him to just 14 games as a rookie, 19 in his second season, and he averaged 7.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds during his time as a Sixer.
Fultz was traded to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 deadline and has since been able to get it together when he is healthy. He averaged 11.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 48% from the floor during his time with the Magic. Hardly numbers worthy of a No. 1 pick, but they were solid numbers. He has since struggled to find a home, though. He played five games for the Sacramento Kings in the 2024-25 season and then five games for the Toronto Raptors in the 2025-26 season.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Markelle Fultz at No. 1 in 2017
