7 shots, 4 points! Fultz's debut! The NBA top pick completely ruined

Fultz's G League debut, representing the Raptors' affiliate Raptors 905, saw him start for 19 minutes, shooting 2-for-7 and scoring only 4 points with 5 assists and 1 steal, helping his new team defeat the Philadelphia affiliate Delaware Blue Coats 137-113 at home.

If he can't even handle the developmental league, then it's completely hopeless.

The G League isn't lacking defensive intensity; rather, its fast-paced offense and defense, especially the high number of offensive possessions, particularly favor ball-dominant guards. So players with even modest ability can rack up impressive stats. By that logic, an NBA top pick should excel... but Fultz, once again, disappoints.

Yes, at just 27 years old, Fultz has now fallen to the point where he can only seek a livelihood in the G League.

Born on May 29, 1998, this guy is a 1.93m tall, 2.08m wingspan combo guard, the top pick of the 2017 draft. His player template was Wade, possessing excellent physical attributes and an aggressive playing style. During his freshman NCAA season, he averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, a comprehensive stat line that made him a supernova who once rocked the entire American basketball scene.

Unfortunately, after entering the NBA, Fultz was plagued by a mysterious condition, often experiencing sudden convulsions on the court, even showing disjointed shooting motions during free throws. He played only one and a half seasons totaling 33 regular-season games for Philadelphia before being discarded, traded to the Magic in February 2019.

Actually, during his Magic tenure, Fultz posted relatively decent personal stats, averaging 10+ points and 5+ assists per game for four consecutive seasons. His availability fluctuated (he suffered an ACL tear in 2021), while his "stable" issue was his shooting ability failing to improve and adapt to today's small-ball era. After the 23-24 season, he didn't receive a renewal contract and entered free agency, briefly joining the Kings for the 24-25 season.

Statistics show,Throughout his NBA career so far, Fultz has averaged 0.3 three-pointers per game at a 28% shooting rate in regular seasons, and 0.4 three-pointers per game at a 35.3% shooting rate in playoffs, with low volume and poor quality essentially equivalent to having none, perhaps only slightly better than the 2016 top pick Simmons who completely lacks shooting ability.

Of course, it can't be said that Fultz didn't work hard to refine his shooting technique; perhaps the aforementioned mysterious condition caused him to lose his shooting feel.

The NBA is filled with talent; everyone is the Jordan of their own story, yet history's riverbed is also littered with tales of wasted potential.