NBA Comparison: Markelle Fultz

Hardwood Houdini Pro Comparisons

Markelle Fultz is one of the players to be considered for the first overall pick in this year’s draft. He has a unique combination of basketball skills and athletic ability, and I will make NBA comparisons for this talented player.

Here, there will be a best case scenario comparison, where the player fulfills his full potential and becomes the best player he can be based on his current gifts. Also, there will be a realistic comparison where the player doesn’t develop all of his potential skills, but still compares in a positive way.

Best Case Scenario: James Harden–Russell Westbrook Hybrid

This would be one heck of an outcome wouldn’t it? Think about the athleticism and defensive potential of Westbrook, combined with the patience and scoring prowess that Harden displays every night. Also, Fultz could be as a good a playmaker as both of these players are.

Fultz is an elite athlete that knows exactly when to attack on the offensive end. He rarely gets himself into trouble from going too fast like Westbrook has from time to time. This is where he could be dangerous. Fultz could become one of the most prolific scorers in the league if he uses his athletic ability correctly. He has the explosive capabilities that Westbrook does, with the perimeter shooting and nifty moves that Harden does.

Defensively, Fultz has the potential to be as good as Westbrook is, but he lacks the consistency required to be a true stopper. That’s where Harden comes in. Harden can certainly be an elite defender when he wants to be, but he doesn’t always give enough effort.

Best case scenario, Fultz takes both of these player’s best skills to create a beautiful medley of explosive, and intuitive play. Defenders won’t know what to do as Fultz dribbles them to sleep and bursts past them for an easy basket.

Realistic Comparison: D’Angelo Russell

It’s still early in his career, but we have a good sense of what Russell is going to be. Like Fultz, Russell is a patient scorer who can play both on and off the ball. Russell was supposed to be a great playmaker coming out of college, but that hasn’t happened quite yet.

Both Fultz and Russell were basically alone on their respective college teams, so their assist numbers could both be from the fact that they drew a lot of attention away from their teammates.

Russell doesn’t have the same athletic ability that Fultz does, but defensive effort has been a problem in his first two seasons. If Fultz doesn’t capitalize on his defensive potential because of effort, he won’t become the great player everyone hopes he will.

Russell can still become a really good player in the NBA, but he’ll need a primary ball handler next to him in the back court for him to maximize his potential. Fultz projects as a player that can play both back court positions, but if his playmaking doesn’t come along like Russell’s he’ll need a pure point next to him to succeed. That limits upside and makes you easier to cover on defense.

Next: Predicting the Celtics' Remaining Schedule

Fultz’s basketball skills and athletic abilities make him a tantalizing prospect coming out of college. Teams will drool over the possibility of having a player that can be the best combination of two MVP candidates like Westbrook and Harden. However, they shold not ignore the possibility of Fultz becoming a one dimensional scorer if his playmaking does not develop, and he doesn’t maximize his defensive potential. Still, Fultz is the best player in the draft this year, and the team that gets him should have a franchise player for years to come.