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Orlando Magic: Grading Markelle Fultz’s 2019-20 NBA season

By Luke Duffy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Markelle Fultz’s strengths

Hard as it may be to believe, Fultz showed early on a number of strengths that give the Magic front office real hope that they can build around him in the future. Despite being on his second team at such a young age, and with countless people ready to count him out, the guy just never looks flustered at all on the court.

We’re thankfully a good deal removed from this now infamous social media graphic, and the play of Fultz has you feeling confident that those dark days will continue to disappear into the rearview mirror. When on the court, Fultz plays at a tempo that is entirely his own and constantly looks to find his teammates.

Oftentimes this is to his and the team’s detriment, but you can’t hold a young player trying to find more experienced heads against him. Particularly in the case of Nikola Vucevic, who was an All-Star the season before last and is in his prime. Fultz always tries to find him and others, and it led to some nice things happening offensively for a Magic team that has not been known for that in recent years.

His 5.1 assists per game led the team, and that number only looks likely to increase as time goes on. That’s not to say there weren’t careless turnovers, there were, but the real positive is that Fultz goes at his own speed and is capable of turning the corner and exploding around the paint in a way that alerts defenders.

Driving and passing are his real strengths offensively, while defensively he is of stout enough build and engaged enough on that end to make his opposing number work for everything. It is this combination that made Fultz arguably the Magic’s second-best player in their brief five-game playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

That says more about the disappearing acts of Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier, but that is hugely encouraging for the franchise for the coming years. Having the confidence to play his way and take shots was also a real strength in year one of his time in Orlando.

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