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After a strong pre-season debut, Markelle Fultz, No. 1 overall draft pick in 2017, said he felt confident and healthy for his second season of the NBA.
"Physically, I feel good, and mentally, I feel good," Fultz said in an interview with NBA TV after the Philadelphia 76ers' victory over Australian Melbourne United in their pre-season match. "I spent a lot of hours this summer meeting with representatives in all kinds of situations. So, I feel perfectly fine, I am confident. I feel good to be present and I look forward to building every day. "
Fultz debuted alongside the rookie of the year 2018 Ben Simmons Friday night and had 14 points and four assists in 23 minutes. He managed a 17-foot jump – his longest attempt at play – and recorded a stuck block and two interceptions against Melbourne.
"It was unbelievable, I really tried to consolidate my performance last season," said Fultz, who missed most of his season as a rookie with a shoulder injury. "I put in a lot of work this summer, I tried to come back and be really a competitor, it was really good."
Before the game, head coach Brett Brown told reporters that he was not totally determined to play Fultz in the starting lineup of the regular season, but that Brown wanted to see him during the pre-season.
Fultz replaced JJ Redick in the starting lineup on Friday. Redick started every game of the regular season in which he appeared during the previous four seasons of the NBA.
Fultz did not start a party as a rookie. He had been restricted to 14 games in the regular season due to a mysterious shoulder injury that had affected his shot.
Fultz said that the shoulder disease was completely cured during the summer. He also spent a lot of time working with his coach Drew Hanlen.
"It was a lot of work, [but] First of all, I had to be in good health. [The shoulder injury] was the main thing that prevented me from doing what I was doing at the upcoming university [to the NBA]"Said Fultz.
The injury to Fultz's shoulder disrupted the Sixers last season. In October, while he was recovering from his initial injury to the right shoulder, Fultz was diagnosed with a scapular imbalance. The injury took longer to heal than originally planned. Last February, the guard was unable to fire beyond 15 feet with sound mechanics or rhythm.
So, his 17-foot field goal on Friday was a positive sign. Three of Fultz's first four goals on Friday were helped by Simmons. Simmons did not help Fultz last season.
Ian Begley of ESPN contributed to this report.
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