Just 7 years ago, Markelle Fultz was one of the most coveted prospects in basketball. He was the consensus No. 1 pick with every tool to become a franchise cornerstone. Today, the 27-year-old is suiting up for Raptors 905 in the G League. The fall from grace has been well-documented, but the story behind it is more complex than most remember.
From a mysterious shooting collapse to a rare medical condition, circumstances that go well beyond the court have defined Fultz’s career.
Markelle Fultz: From Philly’s Savior to a Broken Jumper
When the Philadelphia 76ers selected Fultz first overall in 2017, expectations were through the roof. He was athletic, versatile, and considered an almost complete guard prospect. Then, seemingly overnight, something went wrong with his shot.
His mechanics collapsed in a way that was jarring to watch, and the explanation took over a year to arrive. In December 2018, he was diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. It’s a rare condition involving nerve and blood vessel compression between the neck and shoulder, causing numbness, weakness, and pain in his arm. It directly disrupted his ability to shoot.
By then, the damage to his tenure in Philadelphia was done. Traded to Orlando in January 2019, he quietly rebuilt over four seasons, averaging double-digit scoring and five-plus assists at his best. It looked, briefly, like the story had found a happy ending.
It hadn’t.
A torn ACL in 2021 derailed his progress after his journey had finally started to look like a breakthrough. Setback after setback, Fultz ended up in the G League with the Raptors 905.
Can Raptors 905 Be the Start of Something New for Fultz?
His G League debut was quietly encouraging. He scored 4 points, 5 assists, with zero turnovers, all in 19 minutes of play.
According to reports, the stint is being treated as an audition of sorts. The Toronto Raptors are expected to fill an open roster spot around March 15, and Fultz is reportedly in the conversation as a low-cost late-season option.
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Although nothing has been promised. But Raptors 905 has a strong development track record, and Toronto’s organization is well-regarded for giving players structured environments to rebuild. For Fultz, the window is narrower than it once was, but definitely not fully closed.
At 27, suiting up in the G League may feel like a detour. But given everything he has navigated to stay in the game, the fact that he is still competing at all says something about the man behind the No. 1 pick.
