With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.
This throwback edition takes us to everybody’s favorite former Sixer, Markelle Fultz. This goes back to his rookie season in the season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks at home where Fultz scored a triple-double in a blowout win. It brought a lot of hope for the former number 1 overall pick who only played in 14 games due to a bizarre shoulder injury.
April 11, 2018
Both the Sixers and the Bucks were headed to the NBA Playoffs in 2018 and both teams were just prepping for the playoffs. The Sixers were missing Joel Embiid due to a shoulder injury and the team rested JJ Redick while also limiting the minutes of Ben Simmons and Robert Covington.
So, this gave Fultz a chance to shine.
Fultz had a final stat line of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 130-95 win over the Bucks. Justin Anderson led Philadelphia with 25 points and six rebounds and Dario Saric had 24 points and five rebounds.
Afterward, Fultz told reporters:
It was just a matter of going out there and enjoying myself and playing confident..It’s all love and appreciation.
Fultz was given the backup point guard job in the playoffs, but coach Brett Brown then gave the job back to T.J. McConnell due to the obvious fact that Fultz just was not ready yet. The Sixers fell to the Boston Celtics in five games in Round 2. [lawrence-related id=29204,29207,29190]