In a move that few people in the basketball world saw coming, a former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick is getting another opportunity to revive his professional career. The surprising development has sparked curiosity across the league, as a player once viewed as a future superstar is now attempting to climb his way back into relevance through the G League system.
The announcement came Friday when the Toronto Raptors organization revealed that the veteran guard had signed with their G League affiliate. The decision signals a potential comeback attempt for a player whose career has been defined as much by promise as it has been by setbacks.
While the signing itself is intriguing, it also raises plenty of questions about the player’s recent basketball journey. There has been little public information about where he has been competing this season, leaving fans and analysts wondering what kind of form he might be in as he begins this new chapter.
The last confirmed on-court action came during the 2024–25 NBA season, when the veteran guard appeared briefly in a limited role. Minutes were scarce during that stretch, and the statistical production reflected the reduced opportunity, leaving uncertainty about his future in the league.
That player, of course, is Markelle Fultz, who has officially joined the Raptors 905 after the move was announced by the Toronto Raptors.
Believe it or not, Fultz is still only 27 years old. Despite feeling like a veteran whose career began ages ago, he remains relatively young compared to many players attempting late-career revivals. Still, the path that led him to this point has been anything but conventional.
His most recent NBA stint came with the Sacramento Kings during the 2024–25 season. In that brief run, he appeared in 21 games while averaging just 8.8 minutes per contest, producing 2.9 points and 1.3 assists per game. According to the league’s official records, that marks his most recent appearance in an NBA game.
It would not be shocking if injuries played a role in the lack of playing time, considering how frequently health setbacks have interrupted his career. However, there has been little public clarity about what specifically kept him off the court following that stretch.
Fultz’s career trajectory remains one of the most unusual stories in modern NBA history. He entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after a standout college career with the Washington Huskies men’s basketball. The Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the expectation that he would become a franchise cornerstone.
Instead, his early years in Philadelphia were marred by shooting issues and injuries that dramatically altered his development. At one point, his jump shot mechanics became such a mystery that it became one of the most widely discussed topics around the league.
After just two seasons, the 76ers moved him to the Orlando Magic, where his career finally began to stabilize. During his time in Orlando, he showcased the playmaking and athleticism that made him a top prospect in the first place. Over four consecutive seasons with the Magic, he averaged double-digit scoring while also recording more than five assists per game.
Still, consistency proved difficult to maintain. His final season in Orlando was quieter statistically, and his short stint in Sacramento failed to provide the spark needed to reestablish himself as a regular contributor.
Now, the next chapter begins in the G League. Fultz will attempt to prove that he still has the defensive intensity, playmaking ability, and athleticism that once made him one of basketball’s most intriguing young guards. The biggest lingering question remains his shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, where he has struggled throughout his career and holds a 28 percent average from three-point range.
Even so, the opportunity with Raptors 905 offers a fresh start. If he can rediscover his rhythm and stay healthy, there is always a possibility that he could work his way back into an NBA roster.
For now, though, the story is simply fascinating: a former No. 1 pick, still only in his late twenties, beginning another attempt to rewrite a career that once seemed destined for stardom. The basketball world will undoubtedly be watching to see what he still has left in the tank. 🏀