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Introducing the NBA Bubble’s All-Redemption Starting Five

By Collin Loring

Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles against Ben McLemore #16 of the Houston Rockets during the first half. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles against Ben McLemore #16 of the Houston Rockets during the first half. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NBA bubble (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /

Point guard: Markelle Fultz

There may not be any player with more to prove this season than Markelle Fultz. After being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2017 NBA Draft, he’s been written off of all NBA history books, yes, before they’re even written.

Due to what doctor’s diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Fultz played just 33 games in two seasons with his former team. At times it appeared the guard hadn’t forgotten how to shoot the basketball and was having to learn the game all over again, inspiring little confidence in his future.

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So, Philadelphia traded him at last year’s trade deadline to the Orlando Magic, who have been shopping for what feels like a decade for a point guard worthy of investing in. And all it took was a hefty high price of Jonathon Simmons, a 2020 first-round pick, and a 2019 second-round pick.

Fultz, well, he’s almost made a complete comeback. Especially inside the NBA bubble in Orlando.

He’s averaging 12.4 points and 4.3 assists off the bench for the Magic over their last seven games. Orlando has gone just 2-5 in that span, but are still a playoff team as the East’s eighth seed.

He’s not erased his own narrative entirely, but Markelle Fultz is long from the days of being called a bust, with more opportunity awaiting in the upcoming postseason.