Tag: Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz wishes Sixers were more patient with his injury recovery

Markelle Fultz wishes the Philadelphia 76ers showed a bit more patience with him with his injury recovery.

The Philadelphia 76ers made a big move in the 2017 NBA draft when they sent the No. 3 pick to the Boston Celtics to move up to the No. 1 pick and select Markelle Fultz out of Washington. The idea was he would help the Sixers move closer to a championship.

Unfortunately, Fultz dealt with a bizarre shoulder injury and played 33 games across two seasons in Philadelphia before being sent to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 deadline

Now healthy, Fultz is one of the reasons the Magic are considered a team on the rise, joining Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

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Fultz is thankful for his time in Philadelphia, but he wishes they were more patient with him. The former No. 1 overall pick hopped on “The Knuckleheads Podcast” with former NBA players Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles and said:

I had my supports and stuff like that, you know, and I’m thankful for the Sixers organization and everything they did for me, but I don’t know. It was a weird situation. Again, I understand that it’s a business and again, I understand now the business and in and outs of everything so again, I was thankful to be able to be moved to somewhere where I had a second chance and an opportunity to grow and they wanted to win. I wish I had a chance to to help them because I really feel like I could’ve helped them win if they were patient and let me get healthy, but at the same time I’m thankful for everything that they did for me, and everything worked out good.

Fultz isn’t lighting the world on fire in Orlando, but he is a legitimate starting point guard in the NBA. He averaged 14 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the floor in the 2022-23 season. Joel Embiid offered respect to Fultz after he made his return to Philadelphia as an opponent in January.

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Joel Embiid gives love, respect to former Sixers guard Markelle Fultz

The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of love and respect for former teammate Markelle Fultz, now with the Orlando Magic.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers made a big move in the 2017 NBA draft when they sent the No. 3 pick to the Boston Celtics to move up to the No. 1 pick and select Markelle Fultz out of Washington. The idea was he would help the Sixers move closer to a championship.

Unfortunately, Fultz dealt with a bizarre shoulder injury and played only 33 games across two seasons in Philadelphia before being sent to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 deadline.

After dealing with more injuries in Orlando, Fultz played his first game back in Philadelphia on Monday, a 119-109 win for the Magic, and he had 12 points and 10 assists in the win.

“That’s actually crazy that that was his first game back here, but I’ve always been a big fan of him,” said Joel Embiid of Fultz. “I talk to him, and when we did trade him, I was disappointed because I felt like we had given up on him too early. Even back then, even without a jump shot. I still thought he was an amazing talent just because it’s so quick.”

On the season, Fultz is averaging 12.1 points and 5.7 assists. Those aren’t exactly superstar No. 1 overall pick numbers, but considering how far he’s come, this is a big step.

“I think he went through a lot of stuff,” added Furkan Korkmaz. “Mentally, physically. For a player, it’s not easy to come back strong from that, so I think he did it. It’s good to see him playing so well. Especially, tonight (Monday). I think he really, really played well offensively and defensively. He set the tone for them. He gave them a lot of energy and then they got the win.”

The Magic have a great deal of young talent, 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero looks like he will be a good player for a while, but Fultz continues to be the lead man for them at the point guard spot.

“He’s a good playmaker,” added Embiid. “He gets guys easy shots. There’s a reason they’re a good team. Obviously, they drafted a great rookie who’s gonna be a really good player in this league, but I think everything runs through Markelle. They’re better than what their record says, and they wouldn’t be there without the impact that he has.”

It’s obvious Fultz was well-liked by his former Sixers teammates. A lot has changed in Philadelphia since he was with the team, but the guys still here have respect for him.

“I know him personally,” Korkmaz added. “He’s a really good guy, a good kid. I think he deserves to be in this situation. He even deserves better.”

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Markelle Fultz reacts to Philly return after Magic knock off Sixers

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz reacts to his return to Philadelphia after the Magic beat the 76ers on the road.

PHILADELPHIA — On Monday, Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz played in his first game at the Wells Fargo Center since he was traded to the Magic at the 2019 deadline. The 2017 No. 1 pick only played in 33 games over the course of two seasons with the Sixers.

After dealing with other injuries and more adversity in Orlando, Fultz had yet to play a game in Philadelphia after the trade four years ago. On Monday, he finally had that opportunity, and he had 12 points and 10 assists in a 119-109 comeback win over the Sixers.

Afterward, he gave his reaction to his first game back in Philadelphia since the trade and how the Magic were able to respond.

“Amazing man, it was so fun,” said Fultz. “Obviously, the best thing about it is getting the win, but just the energy of being out there, going against the crowd, and having fun. I think that was the best thing so I’m very excited. I’m glad I got it over with now and get ready for the next one. I’m just glad we got the dub for sure.”

When Fultz was introduced to the crowd, he received some cheers but there were certainly some boos from the Wells Fargo Center crowd. Fultz wasn’t surprised.

“Not really,” he said. “I always felt like I had love here. Philly is always gonna go against the opposite team, so I kinda had a feeling that that was gonna happen, too, but again, it’s very exciting whether you’re on this team or an opposing team to being here and just embrace the fans here and embrace the city.”

Fultz has had a wild journey in the NBA. Philadelphia was a disaster for him, but he has been able to get himself moving forward and Monday was another example.

“It’s a very unique situation,” he said. “I was just taking it all in whether they were happy or not. Just taking it as a game and enjoying it.”

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Markelle Fultz opens up on time with Sixers in first game back in Philly

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz opens up on his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and any emotions in his return back to Philly.

PHILADELPHIA–When one looks back at Markelle Fultz and his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, one will see that it wasn’t very productive.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft had a target on him rather quickly after the Sixers moved up from No. 3 to No. 1 after a trade with the Boston Celtics in order to select him. The idea was that Fultz would join Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons at the time to form a Big 3 and compete for a title.

Instead, Fultz dealt with a ton of adversity. The young man out of Washington only played 14 games in his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, he then was a starter on opening night in his second season, but he only played 19 games due to another bizarre shoulder injury.

There were then reports that he had the “yips” and there were a lot of “he said, she said” stuff, and after just 33 games with the Sixers, he was sent to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 deadline.

On Monday night, Fultz is set to play in his first game back in Philadelphia since the deal after dealing with more injuries in Orlando and he opened up on his time with the Sixers and any emotions walking into the Wells Fargo Center.

Every player in Philadelphia 76ers history who has worn No. 20

Here is a list of the 22 players who have worn the No. 20 uniform of the Philadelphia 76ers in the franchise’s history.

It’s summertime in the NBA, so it’s time to learn some history. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the older franchises in the NBA. Their history dates to the 1949-50 season.

With that longevity, the team has had hundreds of players come through the City of Brotherly Love. Sixers Wire looks at the No. 20 which has been worn by 22 of those players in the history of the franchise.

This running series will go through all of the uniform numbers worn in franchise history. The previous edition of this series was a list compiling the 14 players who have worn the No. 21.

Here is the list of the 22 who have worn No. 20 in Sixers history:

2017 NBA redraft has Sixers taking Jayson Tatum over Markelle Fultz

In a re-draft of 2017, the Philadelphia 76ers take Jayson Tatum with the No. 1 overall pick instead of Markelle Fultz.

Looking back at the 2017 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers made a big move with the rival Boston Celtics to move up to the No. 1 pick, and they selected Markelle Fultz out of Washington. The expectation was Fultz would join Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to form a Big Three.

Instead, Fultz suffered a rash of injuries ,and he played a grand total of 33 games across two seasons for the Sixers before he was traded to the Orlando Magic at the deadline in 2019. With the Magic, he has begun to find his footing, but again, he has been hit with multiple injuries that are holding him back.

In a redraft of 2017 performed by Bleacher Report, the Sixers take Jayson Tatum with the first pick with Fultz sliding to the 19th pick which belonged to the Atlanta Hawks.

B/R on the Tatum pick for the Sixers:

Tatum is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game. Over his last three postseason appearances, he’s made two conference finals and averaged 26.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 38.5 percent from three.

Those absurd numbers are proof that Tatum is already far more than just a No. 1 scorer. What gives him a chance to compete for MVPs, though, is his rapid ascent to elite defense.

One has to wonder how the Sixers would have looked with Tatum joining Embiid and Simmons rather than Fultz, but, alas, Tatum is with the Celtics and Boston is a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference after coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals.

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What are the 5 biggest Celtics trades made during the NBA draft?

The Boston Celtics have made some hugely impactful trades during the NBA draft. Check out the miraculous story behind some of these deals.

The NBA draft is all about roster design. There are a lot of different strategies out there, but let’s stick with what legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach once offered: “They said you have to use your five best players but I found you win with the five who fit together the best.”

With that frame, the draft offers a tantalizing number of opportunities. Sure, you can select the best available player and hope he grows with your system. But fortune favors the bold — the NBA draft is a chance to really swing for the fences and bring in the right player. A smart trade on draft night can change everything.

Boston, unsurprisingly, has a history of moving and shaking far beyond the limited frame of their own specific pick. Following the leadership of Auerbach, the Celtics’ NBA draft trade history is a rich and storied one. As we’ll see, some of the franchise’s best players landed in green by way of a draft-day trade. Let’s discuss.

Top five worst draft picks made in Philadelphia 76ers history

Here are the top five worst draft picks made in the long history of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now that the Philadelphia 76ers officially have a selection in the 2022 NBA draft thanks to the Brooklyn Nets deferring the pick acquired in the James Harden trade to 2023, now is the time to look back at some draft history in Philadelphia.

Every team has some draft busts in their franchise’s history. There is just so much hope and potential for every draftee to succeed and become the player they’re expected to be, but sometimes it just does not happen.

The Sixers are no different as they have made a few draft picks that just did not work out and we’re here to rank the top five worst picks this team has made. With that being said, let’s get into the list:

Magic: Jalen Suggs reacts to starting next to Markelle Fultz

Jalen Suggs returned after a 10-game absence, and helped the Magic defeat the Cavaliers.

Jalen Suggs on Tuesday returned from a 10-game absence and helped the Orlando Magic defeat the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers to snap a six-game losing streak.

Suggs recorded four points, two assists, one rebound, one steal and one blocked shot in 18 minutes during the 120-115 victory. He went 2-of-5 from the field as the Magic opted to ease him back into action with a minutes restriction.

The fifth pick last played on March 13 after suffering a right ankle bone bruise. The injury came as Suggs battled through a sprain on the same ankle during the early part of the month. He wasn’t sure if he’d return this season, but was ecstatic to get back out onto the court.

It was amazing. I was a little jittery getting back out there. It feels like it has been forever since I played 5-on-5 and then not knowing if I was going to come back at the end of the season. I was just grateful, really happy especially to get the win, that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley opted to insert Suggs back into the starting lineup versus the Cavaliers. But with starter Cole Anthony nursing a toe injury, Mosley switched up his backcourt pairing and elected to give Markelle Fultz his first start of the season.

Of course, Fultz made his season debut on Feb. 28 after missing over a year of action due to a torn ACL. He produced 16 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals in a season-high 24 minutes of action to lead the Magic to the win.

The former No. 1 pick has performed well as of late, averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and two steals over his last six games. Fultz has often been commended by his teammates for how efficiently he can run the offense while also creating for himself.

Suggs has learned quite a bit by watching Fultz this season.

He makes things so easy. I’ve been able to sit and learn from him the past 7-8 games. I think just the pace he plays at and the way he gets to his spots and pullups at his own time and is never rushed, we’ve really been dissecting the game and working with each other off the court and I think it has helped me big time. … I can’t wait to get back out there with him again and start getting comfortable and really get this thing rolling. He is a heck of a player and really fun to play aside.

With Suggs back from injury, the 20-year-old will have the opportunity to play the final two games of the season. His rookie campaign has been marred by various injuries but the final two contests will give him the chance to build positive momentum heading into the season.

The backcourt duo of Suggs and Fultz could be a preview of the future. Of course, the starting lineup next season is far from decided but Fultz sees what Suggs brings to the court on a nightly basis for the Magic.

“I think another strong guard,” Fultz said. “I see the work he puts in outside of the gym. He can defend multiple positions but on the other end, can push the pace, get into the paint, mid-range. I think it is going to be something fun to watch in the future.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Tobias Harris praises former Sixers guard Markelle Fultz, young Magic

Tobias Harris gives praise to former Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz and the rest of the young Orlando Magic team.

The Philadelphia 76ers finished a sweep of the Orlando Magic on Sunday thanks to the heroics of Tobias Harris in overtime. He knocked down a 3 from the corner to lift Philadelphia, 116-114, in overtime.

Harris had a big game, 26 points, but some attention was given to the young and pesky Magic and former Sixers guard Markelle Fultz. The No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA draft had eight points on 3-for-6 shooting. He knocked down a 3 and finished with 11 assists and four rebounds off the bench for Orlando.

It was Fultz’s sixth game after returning from an extended absence caused by a torn ACL he suffered early in the 2020-21 season.

“Markelle’s always somebody that has the sky’s the limit with his talent coming back from injury, but I love his game just because of resilience,” said Harris. “When you see him out there moving, he’s moving with the same explosiveness and same power that he had before the injury. You really don’t see that in a lot of guys, but in the minutes that he was out there playing, he looked comfortable.”

Besides the play of Fultz, the rest of the Magic have given the Sixers problems. Philadelphia won all four matchups, but it had to scrap and claw to win. Harris acknowledged that while singling out Fultz.

“What game back is that for him? A couple games back?” Harris asked. “Yeah, so he’s just gonna continue to find rhythm and find balance. He’s a young talent and a great young talent, and, honestly, the whole Orlando team has a lot of young talent and a lot of great pieces for sure.”

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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