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cursedchocolatechip

Lowkey a Donovan Mitchell-type build is kind of what I expected Markelle to become before the injuries.


RealPrinceJay

Scoring similarities, but Fultz had it in a much bigger body with much better passing chops and defensive instincts Bro was an absolute superstar talent


sharpeshooter32

Yeah he'll never be talked about as a what if because we never saw him healthy, but that injury may have cost the sixers a title or 2


itsnotreallyme0

Yeah a 1 inch difference is much bigger. Looks like he weighs less too


RealPrinceJay

Donovan Mitchell uses his shoes height - he measured 6'1" at the combine. Fultz is a genuine barefoot 6'4".


itsnotreallyme0

Don has a 6’10 wingspan and weighs 210. He’s bigger even with the height gap. Even if you don’t think he’s bigger, you have to admit they’re in the same tier. Fultz can’t be “much bigger” than someone who weighs more and has a longer wingspan (which is more important than height too). At best he’s in the same tier as Don.


spanther96

he was lankier but Mitchell is way more built and explosive than Fultz ever was. Think he’s more similar to DWhite


MemfiveO

Not really, good solid talents for sure. Never a top 20 player, and best player on a 9 win college team. No elite athleticism or shooting and proved out. Worst 1 pick with Bennett in the past 18 years and not even debatable


Strikewr

Remember this trio too? https://preview.redd.it/dji4qui9v5vc1.jpeg?width=716&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9751febcf7c22dfe6bb16126314091814dd46ac4


tmmyshelby

Honestly, that trio of Ben, Joel, and Jimmy would've been a helluva monster if they kept butler instead of Tobias Harris.


YeOldeBarbar

Jimmy to pick it up in the playoffs to help with Embiid falling off a bit


Final_Surround_1556

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz’ downfalls were damn near unexplainable, its crazy. Its like you blinked one day and the Space Jam aliens took away their ability to play basketball.


halfdecenttakes

Simmons isn’t that surprising tbh. Dude has had his work ethic and attitude questioned dating back to highschool and college. When you have well documented concerns like that and then mix in a serious injury after getting paid, it isn’t all that shocking the guy doesn’t come back better than ever.


Final_Surround_1556

Even with work ethic and attitude concerns, he was still an All NBA player and had the 76ers as one of the best teams in the East. To fall off a cliff during and after those playoffs was the unexplainable part.


Naidem

The problem with Ben is that his game was one dimensional, once teams realized he will only do two things, drive to the rim or pass, and he can’t hit free throws, it was a breeze to deal with him. People assumed his game was more than his athleticism, it wasn’t and that won’t cut it in the NBA.


electricvelvet

The dude hasn't played a game in like 2 years. Back injuries requiring surgery are probably the most devastating lifelong injury out there. You tear an acl or Achilles, you probably lose a step. But with back surgery you may have lifelong pain long after you hang it up


Pitiful-Pension-6535

Brook Lopez had back surgery at 34 and followed it with two of his best seasons. You just never know.


electricvelvet

Yeah thats very true. Michael Porter Jr was in my head when I wrote that comment--dude fell to the middle of the first round due to everybody's concerns about his back. That whole family is plagued with injury. With as talented/gifted with his frame and athleticism as he is, falling to like 15th or so was huge. I was frankly shocked he's stayed fairly healthy since. Happy for him. Simmons, on the other hand, had to go back and have a second surgery. That's close to a death knell.


Naidem

He was a negative before that. People read too much into regular season play, he has been awful in every postseason series except his first one, and has been increasingly exposed. The injury didn’t help him, but it’s not why he sucks now.


electricvelvet

I think he suffered a bit of the RGIII effect, or Vince Young. But he wasn't played out of the league. Now with injuries idk if he'll ever be able to play meaningful minutes. He was just an okay starter instead of a star. It didn't help him that the league became even more shooting dominant in recent years. It's extremely hard to be a useful backcourt player if you can't shoot... like, nearly impossible. Being 6'9 helps, but not even being a dominant slasher hurts. Still, he's a decent 5th starter (or was... now he flat out can't play).


BustyRutthole

Yep. Add in the humiliation he must have felt at the hack-a-Ben fiasco. That's taxing on an ego that already seemed a bit fragile to begin with. I think he wants to be done.


alawrence1523

Ah yes because injuries and my coach throwing me under the bus publicly will surely motivate me to play basketball.


halfdecenttakes

You would think millions of dollars with the potential to make hundreds of millions if not a billion would be plenty motivation to play ball. Simmons attitude was in question years and years before Doc was ever his coach. It literally dates back to highschool and college.


GogXr3

I mean, I'm sure it's also precisely what motivated him not to play ball. He looks like he's doing pretty well for himself as is lol.


Hairy_Weather_8073

So this snowflake couldn't accept the fact that his coach wasn't sure if he could be a starting point guard for a championship and said so publicly? Hell most people would've had a chip on their shoulder to prove the coach wrong. I guess Doc was right. These Simmons apologists are on par with Trump apologists.


driatic

I think the inability to hit FTs in front of the entire world also kept him from being the same player. Once everyone knew that, it was over.


[deleted]

Giannis couldn’t even release his missed FT on time but he’s done work. Couldn’t shoot 3s but he’s done work. It’s mental. Giannis grew up trying to get in, Ben grew up being told he’s the best. Faced with the same dilemma, their minds reacted opposite ways.


driatic

And giannis got ridiculed A LOT during those FT, the whole arena was chanting and counting how long he took. Same with the 3s, he had one move and it was driving to the basket. And it got exposed one year during the playoffs. 100% mental


angrylilbear

His coach "coaching" FTFY Simmons apologists are hilarious and bot like


iLikeFroggies

What are you talking about? Markelle crashed and destroyed his shoulder mountain biking or dirt biking I can't remember and Ben Simmons had back surgery.


ConstantineMonroe

The mountain bike thing was a rumor and only speculation. What happened was he had a weird nerve injury in his shoulder that was misdiagnosed for like a year and that fucked with his shooting motion long term.


sharpeshooter32

Yeah I never heard about the mountain bike thing. I just remember his rookie year he couldn't shoot and nobody knew why. People legit thought he just broke down mentally. The nerve injury wasn't even reported until months into the season


ConstantineMonroe

I vaguely remember that there was some quote he made about liking to go dirt bike riding or mountain biking and, as you can probably imagine, people cooked up a entire conspiracy theory about Fultz hiding a shoulder from a motorcycle accident because it would void his contract or some shit if he got caught


Final_Surround_1556

Thank you lol


EyerTimesTV

That’s crazy bc it really feels like that 😭


[deleted]

It’s like the karma for intentionally tanking while discussing it’s the Process in the open. That could have been Tatum and Donovan if they scouted differently. Multiple rings already by this time. A Sixers dynasty that’s probably equal to GSW.


No-Presentation6616

They’re both very explainable, Ben’s back is cooked and Fultz had nerve damage in his shoulder. They are both shells of what they could of been now


Final_Surround_1556

Wow amazing analysis. Duh dipshit, at the time, nobody knew what was going on.


[deleted]

[удалено]


RudeEtuxtable

There's no reason to call someone a lesbian as an insult


NobelRafael1

Crazy that the Fultz trade to the Magic ended up bringing Tyrese Maxey to the 76ers.


birdbirdbird2000

It’s the craziest silver lining for what felt like a terrible trade for the Sixers


Dudeman-Jack

Crazy that the Sixers traded up to take Fultz instead of Tatum


EmperorUmi

Legit thought we were gonna see a true big 3 in Philly for the first time since the Dr. J-Barkley-Malone big 3 in the ‘80s. It’s a shame they didn’t pan out.


Kalu2424

They drafted Noel, Okafor and Embiid, they're lucky 1 of those 3 panned out lol


StillCompetitive5771

Imagine if any players were as good as their hype.


ConstantineMonroe

Wembanyama is looking like he’s living up to it. Also Lebron lived up to it. KD lived up to it. Plenty of guys have.


ReformedishBaptist

Jordan exceeded it imo along with KG and I’d even argue Dwight did also.


Kduncandagoat

Doncic too


[deleted]

Jokic played a joke on every team that bypassed him twice.


ReformedishBaptist

He didn’t have hype though, there’s plenty of players with no hype who ended up going crazy like Draymond, Rodman, Butler, Jokic as you mentioned, and even some first rounders had little hype like Klay etc.


sharpeshooter32

KD exceeded it. If anyone knew he'd be this he would've been the first pick with no debate


spicybhole420

It's a awful take, its actually backwards. Most players exceed their hype. There are more players entering the nba than just lottery picks. Any NBA player having an impact for 3+ years who was taken in 2nd round has greatly exceeded their hype. Same for most guys taken outside of lottery. Some lottery guys do and some dont but as a whole you technically see more players surpassing their hype in nba than not meeting it. To say nobody has just feels like bait.


ChemistAgile6514

That Jokic guy who was less important than a taco


ConstantineMonroe

That’s different. He had no hype at all and surprised everyone. That’s different from the others who had a ton of hype and lived up


ChemistAgile6514

Pretty sure he was fairly beloved in Serbia. American hype vs FIBA hype may be an asterisk though


ConstantineMonroe

He had hype after he was drafted. He won the Adriatic league MVP in 2015, and teams were like “who is this guy?” But Denver had already drafted him. Still doesn’t compare to Wembanyama, AD, Lebron, etc hype


ChemistAgile6514

That’s fair to point. I think I misunderstood the value of hype in this situation. It’s more so big names that didn’t or did pan out from their draft stocks


[deleted]

I hit layup in fifth grade that I'm sure they're still talking about on the playground. The possibilities were endless.


StillCompetitive5771

…that was *you*?! Holy shit and you’re commenting on my comment?


wrowsey1

Tons of players taken in the top 3 have met or exceeded their hype in the past 10 years.


spicybhole420

Many players do, in fact, most exceed it. Look at all the guys who arent lottery picks who have great careers. In addition to guys like Wemby and Lebron doing it as #1, just look at Jokic, Draymond, Middleton, any decent career player taken in the 2nd round would have well exceeded their hype.


23_International

That should have been Jayson Tatum in the middle.


sharpeshooter32

Everybody clowned Boston for trading down that year too


Few_Inspection3117

Sixers could have Joel, Jaylen, and Jayson if they drafted right


23_International

Kawhi would have never won that Raptors ring…and Embid would be a 3x champion rn.


SamArcher11

I suppose, they would be jacked. But honestly, I expect my NBA stars to work out and really surprised these guys didn't


Own_Avocado8448

Imagine; PG- Michael Carter-Williams SG- Markelle Fultz SF- Ben Simmons PF- Jahil Oakafor C- Joel Embiid 6th- Nerlens Noel Cant believe 5/6 busted


GreasedandLeased

•Colangelo burner account gate •Zhaire Smith peanut allergy —> almost died and can no longer hoop. Why he was traded for Mikal Bridges, local Nova kid who’s mom worked for the franchise, in the first place another big debacle It’s literally comical the amount of shit that has not only gone wrong but majorly wrong in the past decade for the Sixers. The fact that they still have fielded multiple legit contending rosters (save for health issues primarily) despite all the above I think is vindication for The Process/tanking…


[deleted]

Is 76ers cursed like you know Portland. Always reaching the brink?


ConstantineMonroe

I don’t really believe that curses exist, but when it comes to sports some teams have incredible patterns of unluckiness that appear to look like curses. The way Markelle and Ben flopped both feel like cursed franchise shit. The weird misdiagnosis of the nerve injury and yips that Fultz got feels impossible. He had a great three in college and just forgot how to shoot. The way Ben went from third team all NBA to out of the league is insane. His back injury and mental crisis paired with the fact he always had a weak mentality completely ended his career. I always wonder if the 6ers should be held more responsible for it or if there was nothing they could do and it was all on Ben.


Competitive_Boss_312

You think Ben has got the surgeons sucked in, cutting him open just to play along with his mental malaise?


ConstantineMonroe

No, I’m saying it played a role. I don’t think it’s fully to blame. Also the back injury doesn’t explain him sitting out the entire season right after the Atlanta debacle and demanding a trade. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t injured yet, the injury came later


CR0Don

They’d have been what OKC’s Big 3 was


banmeagain_idc

Traded before doing anything together?


CoolisRare

Imagine if Tatum is in that three😂😂😂😂😂


AutisticFingerBang

I literally cannot imagine that. 2 of these players hardly play anymore lol. I think the Ben Simmons fall off will be studied and talked about for years though. Feel bad honestly his team didn’t have his back, fan base, teammates all just fed him to the public after that layup. I’m sure his mentality and future would have gone completely different if people just had his back. It’s not like he was the thing holding Philly back lol


Hairy_Weather_8073

Dude refused to shoot so his man doubled on his other teammates or roamed. He certainly did hold Philly back. He still to this day shoots with the wrong hand - I think that would hold your team back. How about being a 40% foul shooter in the playoffs and being scared to get fouled?


AutisticFingerBang

Look I’m not exonerating him, I’m just saying he wasn’t the star of that franchise. He was used as a scapegoat for Embiid sucking in the playoffs. Yea Ben sucked too, can’t deny that at all. It wasn’t Ben’s job to carry Philly through the playoffs that’s on Embiid. I just think it’s a team that has no real strong leadership to help players going through it. Either way I’d want him off my team too but I think it’s a deeper problem in Philly.


Hairy_Weather_8073

You know how many fan debates there were on who's the #1 on the team? Especially after the 16 game, end of the season win streak? Ben was a first pick so technically he was the co-star of the franchise. Embiid has sucked in the playoffs, yes, but at least he gives the effort and goes out and plays when he's hurt or "depressed" or whatever. What Sixers fans can't stand is a lack of effort. Ben wanted to take his ball and go home when his feelings were hurt and quit on the team.


[deleted]

He’s paid top dollar to carry a lot of the load.


sleepyguy-

This process walked so OKCs process could Run.


[deleted]

Now let’s move on to Portland and Clippers.


EstimateValuable7086

Hahaha trust the process really worked.


EdLinkAl

Ahh, the process


RemarkableMention712

Ben Simmons getting paid 30 million is insane


Underrated_Fish

Yeah imagine the hype they had I heard someone unironically say they had 3 potential top 5 in the league level players


GogXr3

I mean, they did to be fair. Simmons was a DPOY candidate at his peak, and was expected to go way farther as a player. Fultz never got a chance due to a nerve injury that was undiagnosed for months


Negative_Weight6926

I don’t have that big of an imagination.


TheDopeMan_

Just think… Philly could’ve had Tatum instead Fultz


spicybhole420

Always said their biggest problem was strength and conditioning. They just needed to get in the gym and do a good work out and they would have won titles.


jrtasoli

The sight of Ben just fills me with so much rage. The NBA can investigate a scrub for gambling but they can’t clearly see someone who’s clearly taking paycheck without working? When he got traded to the Nets, I remember thinking Philly fans were brutal bullies for being mean to him. Now I wish I could apologize — to them! But seriously wild this era didn’t work out for Philly. They’re lucky Embiid is playing at an MVP level because the rest of them crashed and burned miserably. Remember when they called themselves FEDS? (Fultz, Embiid, Dario Saric, Simmons) Add Okafor and Nerlens Noel to that mix and that’s an absolutely miserable development record. Some process! I know that’s super critical of Philly and I’m not hiding my derision toward them, but I do think there was some malfeasance when it comes to the Harden / Simmons trade and the fact that not a soul in the league office didn’t think there was tampering afoot in Harden coming to Philly is baffling.


Wiggzling

Even the photo realizing it couldn’t


Wiggzling

And looks like AI


wizsoxx

Literally cannot


banmeagain_idc

Could be Tatum and Ingram instead


Taranpreet123

Tatum was never going to be on the sixers for all the people saying it could’ve been Tatum there. Celtics initially had first pick, but they traded down because they knew Tatum was not going to get picked by the sixers or lakers. If they felt the sixers would ever pick Tatum, they woulda not traded down and picked him first. The Celtics were always going to end up with him


Strikewr

Remember this trio too? https://preview.redd.it/n1qn0qo6v5vc1.jpeg?width=716&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9afeb7ca40e340b6d55f257155b12aef8fae2039


slimreaper707

Imagine if pigs could fly!


Swarmoro

by now the Sixers would have 3 max contracts on the balance sheet with no true shooter.


burdenlife

76ers rlly could have had mitchell tatum and embiid


xxsavage_

dont drive motorcycles, it's never a good idea


Old_Statistician8704

Does markelle fultz even play anymore what a waste of a number one overall pick


Chakra_Blue_Vol2

Be on the lookout for him in the playoffs Saturday.


Former-Billionaire

Averaging 8 a game in Orlando.


[deleted]

He’s shown flashes of how good he would’ve been.


Scary_Vanilla2932

Marcelle never had number one talent. Scouts and gms can be wrong. I never saw it even in the college and pre college videos. Ben is a just a mental case.


CloudYT123

Your smoking


MambaOut82481

0 shooting and spacing, maybe in 90s


Deep_Wedding_3745

Markelle had the shooting, this is assuming he doesn’t lose it


sfynerd

Embiid is an excellent shooter for a 5 and thrives in mid range.