Markelle Fultz: NBA, Injury & Net Worth

The American professional basketball player Markelle Fultz plays for the team Orlando Magic of the NBA.

Markelle played college basketball for the Washington Huskies before being selected in the 2017 NBA Draft with the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Fultz played point guard and shooting guard for the Huskies during his single season (2016–17). Despite Washington’s disappointing season, he was named a third-team All-American and first-team Pac-12 All-Star.

Fultz’s work ethic aided him in developing into a basketball prospect worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, overcoming a shoulder injury that some feared would end his career.

Markelle is on the verge of riches and fame; he may be the missing piece that can finally turn Magic’s fortunes around. Let us discover more about him through the article here. 

Quick Facts

High School Career

Markelle started at DeMatha Catholic High, an all-boys prep school and basketball powerhouse, in 2012.

He had shown promise as a freshman for the DeMatha Stags, but as a sophomore, the guard was cut from the varsity roster.

He was overlooked because of his awkward gait, which gave him the appearance of “Bambi.” On the other hand, Fultz outperformed the competition at the junior varsity level, demonstrating that he did not belong there.

The Washington Huskies’ assistant coach Raphael Chillious was the first to recognize his potential, describing him as a player with the makings of an NBA All-Star if he continued to develop.

As a beginner for DeMatha’s varsity team, Filtz averaged 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per match and was named Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player.

Fultz committed to the University of Washington on August 21, 2015. He finished his high school career by setting the Stags’ single-season assist record with 278 and leading the team to their second consecutive conference championship.

College Career

The Washington Huskies were expecting Dejounte Murray and Marquese Chriss to start the 2016–17 season; however, both freshmen were chosen in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.

Fultz took over as team leader and primary scorer despite the lack of proven talent and only one returning starter. He debuted as the starting point guard in a 98–90 home loss to the Yale Bulldogs, scoring 30 points.

Despite the Huskies’ disappointing 9–22 record, Fultz had one of the best freshman seasons in Pac-12 Conference history.

His 23.2 point average in 25 games that season was the highest in the Pac-12 in 20 years and ranked second in Huskies history behind Bob Houbregs’ 25.6 point average.

By the time Pac-12 honors were handed out, Fultz, the lone Husky chose, had been named First-Team All-Pac-12 and Third-Team All-American.

The consensus among sports analysts was that Markelle would be the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft because he “jumps off the page athletically and possesses creative scoring instincts and playmaking skills.”

Markelle Fultz: Age, Height & Weight 

Markelle Fultz was born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on May 29, 1998. Thus, the athlete is currently 25 years old.

A good body build is one of the requirements for being an athlete. As a teen, Markelle Fultz was limited in the game because he was quite lanky, standing at 5 feet 9 inches.

He began working hard to improve his body structure, and his efforts paid off; he now has a firm and perfect structure. Markelle Fultz stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 95 kg.

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Professional Career

Fultz was chosen first overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, who signed him to a four-year rookie contract on July 8.

Head coach Brett Brown chose Fultz over veteran JJ Redick as the starting shooting guard for the 2018–19 season. However, after 15 games, Fultz lost his starting spot to Jimmy Butler, whom the 76ers acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Conflicting statements about Fultz’s health and poor production remained sources of contention and drama for the team.

Fultz was traded to the Orlando Magic on February 7, 2019, in exchange for Jonathon Simmons, an Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick, and a Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick. 

Later that month, Magic coach Steve Clifford stated that he did not expect Fultz to return during the season, emphasizing that his shoulder injury was “severe.”

Fultz made his debut for Magic on October 23, 2019, scoring 12 points, dishing out six assists, and stealing two balls in a 94–85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In eight games, he finished the season averaging a career-high 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. On February 28, 2022, he returned to the court against the Indiana Pacers.

Markelle Fultz: Muscular Imbalance 

Markelle Fultz had a scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder during his rookie season with the Sixers. The 6-foot-3 guard couldn’t shoot the ball and developed the “yips.”

Due to a shoulder injury, Fultz only played 14 games in 2017-18, and he was benched twice by the team.

He finished the season with 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per match while shooting 40.5% from the field and 47.6% from the free-throw line. Fultz only attempted one 3-pointer, which he missed.

Markelle averaged 1.7 points in three games against the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, which the Sixers lost in five games to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He did not appear in the game against Boston.

Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Markelle Fultz was hoping to put his difficult rookie season behind him and prove to the world in Year 2 that he deserved the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. He appeared in the first 19 games of the 2018-19 season, starting 15 of them.

However, Fultz experienced Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome throughout his second season and still had trouble shooting the ball.

Markelle averaged 8.2 points per game while shooting 41.9% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the 3-point line, and 56.8% from the free-throw line.

Fultz’s jump shot had a hiccup, and many evaluators were convinced that the youngster still had the “yips.”

Fultz’s final game for the Sixers was on November 19, 2018. The team suspended him while he recovered from a shoulder injury, and he was finally traded to the Magic on February 7, 2019.

Comeback 

Given that he hadn’t played in nearly 14 months, Markelle Fultz deserves a high grade for his eagerly awaited return performance against the Indiana Pacers in February.

Somewhere in the A-to-B range appears to be correct, and the way he was going before his night ended after 16 minutes, one could say it was far better than most predicted.

The Pacers were shorthanded, and Fultz had to play mostly against their second-unit players, so he still has a lot to prove going forward.

Not surprisingly, Fultz only turned the ball over once. He has only 1.8 turnovers per game in his career. Without him, the Magic have lacked offensive discipline, so they rank 25th in turnovers, averaging 14.7 per game.

It was always under the radar before the 2017 draft, but his high basketball IQ was one of the reasons he was the No. 1 overall pick.

Fultz reads the game well and makes sound decisions with the ball in his hands, which is a must for a lead guard. He had six assists by the end of the game.

There’s no doubt that if he had played a few more minutes – as he would have if he were in midseason form – he would have easily recorded a double-double.

Markelle Fultz: Playing Style 

There aren’t many ball-handlers in the league who can compete with Fultz. It is not about how quickly you move or how many times you place the ball between your legs or behind your back to be a good dribbler.

It’s more about changing speeds and keeping defenders guessing, which Fultz excels at. He has a distinct on-court flow that musical symbols could represent.

It’s almost as if he’s a freestyle dancer, displaying a variety of moves based on the song’s rhythm.

There’s no denying that the athlete needs to improve his outside shooting to progress from good to great. Another aspect of his game is that he focuses on initiating more contact on drives.

With his strength and the fact that he’s a legitimate body-contact embracer rather than a body-contact evader, don’t be surprised to see Fultz at the free-throw line more frequently.

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Family 

Markelle Fultz was born in the Maryland town of Upper Marlboro. Fultz is the youngest of two siblings, and his mother, Ebony Markelle, raised him on her own.

Fultz’s father was never present in his life; the man had abandoned his family to take care of his wife. The b-bailer has publicly criticized his father several times and has always reminded him that he made it without his assistance.

It has also been established that Ebony played a significant role in her son’s life and even career. “Close associates said she still goes to great lengths to shield him,” according to the Washington Post.

Many people familiar with the setup said Ebony had cameras installed inside his New Jersey home during Fultz’s first season in Philadelphia, who described the indoor surveillance as unusual.

The cameras have since been taken down. According to multiple sources, Ebony has asked some of those who have worked with Fultz to sign nondisclosure agreements.

According to multiple sources, Fultz’s mother understandably wanted to protect her son throughout college and now even into the pros. However, it seems this overprotection may have done as much damage as it’s done well.

Girlfriend & Controversy 

Sierra Mack and Markelle Fultz’s love story is filled with ups and downs.

Sierra’s former best friend, Kat Mack, claims she was pregnant with Fultz’s child while he cheated on her with Sierra. She eventually lost the baby.

Off the court, Fultz has been having a bizarre moment with the ladies. A few years ago, he dumped one of his girlfriends, Kat Mack, and began dating Sierra, her best friend. That relationship appears to have ended as well.

According to a source, Fultz posted a cryptic message about his girl on his Instagram story. He then signed into Sierra’s Snapchat and sent her and her friends an NSFW message.

Later Sierra Mack, his girlfriend, was pregnant, and she flaunted her baby bump during the self-quarantine. The couple welcomed their son on July 12, 2020. 

Fultz posted an adorable picture of his son on his 1st birthday with a long heartwarming caption. He wrote; 

“A year ago today, my life changed forever. As soon as I saw you, my face was full of tears of joy. God has blessed me with you & I thank him every day. I will always be here for you through the good and bad. My love for you is unconditional.”

Markelle Fultz: Coach

Fultz, a basketball enthusiast, was mentored by a local instructor named Keith Williams in his early years.

Not for the first time, the three most important pieces of his life have come together — Ebony’s thoughtful caution, Williams’ naked ambition, and Markelle’s own reserved insecurity.

Keith Williams, a local basketball star who’d made it to the upper echelons of the pro game, had gone to high school with her and was now a private coach in Maryland.

Ebony’s son was skinny and seven years old, but he was full of energy and a burning desire to play basketball.

Williams told Ebony to bring him to the gym, but all he promised was that Markelle could run and play and that Williams would be paid $30 at the end of each practice.

The coach was patient with Ebony, but his methods were unusual: no water breaks and more bodywork than basketball drills.

Ebony dropped him off for two practices a day on occasion, but after a while, those $30 sessions added up to a hefty bill.

She called Williams when she couldn’t afford it any longer. He described her son’s drive as unusual, and he saw Markelle as a role model for others. He’d do something he rarely did for a while: he’d coach Ebony’s son for free.

Net Worth 

Markelle Fultz’s net worth is estimated to be at least $5 million by Celebrity Net Worth.

In life, hard work pays off, and Fultz’s NBA journey is a prime example of this. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic have signed Fultz to a three-year, $50 million contract extension.

Markelle announced in 2017 that he had agreed to a Nike endorsement deal. Furthermore, while Nike turned down Lonzo Ball’s $1 billion offer, the sneaker and sportswear behemoth signed Markelle.

Fultz was the first 2017 draft pick to sign a multi-year contract with Nike.

He bought a house in Windermere. Fultz paid $1,475,000 for this recently renovated 5,460-square-foot home.

The home, which was built on more than an acre in 2013, has seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a three-car garage. The house had previously been listed for $1,550,000.

Social Media 

Markelle Fultz is pretty active on various social media platforms. The athlete knows how to handle the love and hate that is constantly showered upon him on his social media. 

As he clarifies, he was on social media during the peak of the slander against him and was well aware of it. None of the stories mattered to him because he knew the truth about himself. 

Moreover, his relationships have also been the major controversy on his social media. Despite all the controversy, he utilizes his social media to connect with his fans and followers. 

Below is the link to his social media accounts; 

• Instagram– 5.4m followers (as of March 2022)
• Twitter– 235.5k followers (as of March 2022)

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FAQs

What happened to Markelle?

The young guard was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome during his sophomore season in the NBA. Fultz was traded to the Orlando Magic after appearing in 36 total games for the Sixers between 2017 and 2019.

How good is Fultz?

Markelle was drafted first overall and averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

He was a versatile prospect who could make plays, get to the rim, shoot from the perimeter (41% from 3-point range on 126 attempts), and be an impact defender.