Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 26: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 26: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

17. Can Markelle Fultz shoot again?

A funny thing happened after the Philadelphia 76ers traded up to the No. 1 overall pick to select Markelle Fultz: He forgot how to shoot.

The Maryland native shot a sizzling 41.3 percent from deep during his lone season with the Washington Huskies, but by the time training camp rolled around last fall, Fultz’s shooting stroke was more hideous than Wade Wilson’s face.

The Sixers pinned Fultz’s shooting struggles on a mysterious shoulder injury and shut him down for most of his rookie season so he could rehabilitate behind the scenes. Even upon his return late in the year, he largely operated inside the paint, taking only nine of his 84 shot attempts from 15 feet or further.

Fultz has spent the summer working with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen, whose other clients include Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal. In an interview with Fox Sports’ Evan Daniels, Hanlen said of Fultz: “I literally think that if he’s back to 100 percent, I think he’s immediately an All-Star. I know that’s a bold statement, but I work with a lot of other All-Stars, so I think I have the right to say that.”

Hanlen isn’t the only one hyping up Fultz’s progress this summer. During a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast (via Nicole Yang of Boston.com), Tatum said Fultz is “looking good” and is “getting better.” Though he stopped short of anointing Fultz an instant All-Star like Hanlen did, Tatum added: “I’m excited for him because, obviously, he wants to play. He wants to get out there and show people what he can do.”

The Sixers fell short in their star-hunting quest this offseason, so they’ll instead have to hope internal improvement can further fuel their rise up the Eastern Conference standings. If Fultz can become the third pillar of a Big Three with Embiid and Ben Simmons, Philly will be neck-and-neck with Boston and Toronto for conference supremacy this season.