Markelle Fultz scores 17 points in summer-league debut
The point guard had the potential winning shot blocked in a loss to Boston.
SALT LAKE CITY - Markelle Fultz was happy in the hours leading up to Monday night's opener in the Utah Jazz Summer League.
The 76ers' No. 1 draft pick was glad because the game against the Boston Celtics marked his first since Feb. 18 with the University of Washington.
"So I know what it feels like not to play and I know what it feels like to play," he said. "So I'm just happy for this opportunity. I'm going to go out and give my all."
Giving his all led to mostly positive results against the team that wasn't sold on him being the No. 1 pick. Fultz finished with 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting in the 89-88 loss to the Celtics at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
He had a chance to win the game in the closing second, but his reverse layup was blocked. On that play, the Sixers wanted him to blow past his man and get to the rim.
"That's what I did," Fultz said, "and they just had great help defense."
Fultz didn't appear too disappointed because he gave his all on that play and in the entire game. Sure, he wanted to win. But he and Sixers had to be happy to with his overall performance.
In 22 minutes, 19 seconds of court time, Fultz also had two rebounds, one assist, three blocks, one steal, and four turnovers. The 19-year-old should have had at least six assists, but his teammates missed open shots.
"It was just exciting to get back out there," he said. "Like I said, that was the first time I played five-on-five for a long time. Just getting [back] to the tempo, really. . . . I'm used to it. But you have to learn how to do it [in the NBA]."
The point guard initiated the offense at times. Other times, he played off the ball, as Larry Drew II had the point guard duties for the Sixers.
But his performance was far from one fueled by a grudge against the Celtics. Fultz acknowledged Monday that for his development, the Sixers were a better situation than Boston, which traded the first overall pick to the Sixers before the draft. Boston already has an established backcourt in point guard Isaiah Thomas and shooting guard Avery Bradley.
"To me, anywhere I went, I would have given my all," Fultz said. "Coming here, that's what I'm going to do. I feel like I fit in great. So it's all going to be good."
Based on this outing, the Sixers made the right decision to trade the third pick and future considerations to Boston.
Thirteen seconds into the game, Fultz opened the scoring with a floater. Then he blocked Demetrius Jackson's shot on the ensuing possession. He followed that by blocking another Jackson shot a couple of minutes later.
Fultz's block started a fastbreak that concluded with a reverse layup by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).
"I love chasing down blocks," Fultz said. "I'm always going to give effort on both ends of the floor. That's one thing that goes unnoticed, just how hard I play on both ends. Like I said before, I'm a great shot-blocking point guard."
Boston's Jayson Tatum, the third overall pick in the draft, finished with 21 points. He hit a jumper to give the Celtics an 89-88 lead with 5.7 seconds left. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown had game highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds.
Stevens on Johnson
Celtics coach Brad Stevens spoke with Sixers staff members about Amir Johnson, who agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Sixers on Saturday. Johnson played for the Celtics for the last two seasons.
"We all know here what Amir meant to us from a team standpoint, what kind of a guy he is," Stevens said.
"I've talked to him quite a few times over the last few days. . . . Obviously, we loved having Amir here."
Free agency began at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. Players cannot sign contracts until Thursday at noon.
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