Inside The PBSL: "The Artist Formerly Known As Markelle Fultz"
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:07 am
As he calmly sips from his craft beer at the local brewery, Markelle Fultz can't help but reflect on the circumstances that lead to his arrival in the PBSL. Once a highly touted prospect out of Michigan State, he now sits on the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers where he patiently awaits his moment to shine. While other players earn their worth on the court, Fultz can't help but wonder when his time will — if ever — come.
Before he became a folk legend in Philadelphia, Markelle Fultz was just another kid out of Illinois with high hopes for greatness. He would enroll in Michigan State University, where he would average 10.3 PPG, 2 AST, and 1.1 STL in 19.5 minutes for the Spartans, leading them to a mediocre 9-9 record in the Big Ten. Despite his team's many flaws, it didn't take long for his talents to catch the attention of several PBSL scouts, including Jack Hoff of the Philadelphia 76ers, who would occasionally attend his games after getting blackout drunk at the local bar.
"There was just something about him that stood out to me," says Jack Hoff, who became a scout after serving time for manslaughter in 2012. "He was an elite athlete — I don't know how else to put it. When I would watch him on the court, I often found myself fighting back the tears — his game was that beautiful to me. It was like sex with my wife, but better, because it wasn't my wife."
It didn't take long for word to spread, however. Markelle Fultz quickly became the talk of the league, attracting attention from big-name ball clubs such as the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets. It seemed as if everybody wanted to get in on the action. It wasn't meant to be, however: Fultz's fate seemed destined for Philadelphia, as they were in prime position to select him with the #9 overall pick in the 2017-2018 PBSL Draft. The only question was, would he fall that far?
"I have to admit, I was really nervous on draft day — so much so that I smoked an entire eighth of some dank Buddha beforehand — just to take the edge off a bit, you know? Okay, maybe that and a pint of cheap vodka. But please, please don't tell my wife. She honestly thinks I've been sober for years now," Jack Hoff confessed as he downed another shot of Bacardi 151.
It didn't take long, however, for his greatest fears to be washed away by the incredible realization that they were going to get their man. Markelle Fultz was going to be a 76er! It almost seemed to good to be true — especially for Fultz, who grew up idolizing Sixers legends such as Vlade Divac and Tyson Chandler.
"I wanted to be apart of that. I wanted to be apart of a winning culture in Philadelpha. And that was exactly what I got... But I didn't expect it to wind up like this," Fultz admitted.
Upon arriving in Philadelphia, Markelle made it his mission to become a man of the people. He wanted to prove that he was one of them; he wanted to prove that, like them, he too was fighting for survival in an otherwise troubled world. And what better way to connect with Philadelphians than through their over-sized stomachs? Almost as soon as he arrived, Markelle took an Uber out to Pat's and Geno's Steaks to see what all the hype was about. It was love at first bite for the undersized guard.
"It all started with that first damn cheesesteak. After that, I couldn't put it down. I found myself eating one at least every day. And like any other addict, I soon found myself unable to keep up with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. I began missing practices and sh*t like that," Markelle laments.
Before long, Markelle Fultz found himself sitting out practices due to his sudden weight gain and poor effort on the court. He was out of shape, big time, and he knew it. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into a month before he found himself handling a basketball again. But no matter how hard he worked, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remain focused — all he could think about was sinking his teeth into another greasy, succulent Philly cheesesteak. He found himself skipping practice just to head out to Jim's Steaks on South Street, a popular destination for tourists. He would spend hours frequenting various restaurants throughout the city, in search of the ultimate high: The perfect Philly cheesesteak.
Just as quickly as his career had begun in Philadelphia, it quickly came to an abrupt halt. He was an additional 15lbs overweight, and the Sixers coaching staff decided to send a message by benching him for the foreseeable future. As the preseason started, Markelle found himself on the outside looking in. The once triumphant Cheesesteak King of Philadelphia was reduced to a shadow of his former self, a laughing stock decked out in Gucci and Prada. He would only make a few limited appearances in preseason action, never scoring more than a single field goal.
As the regular season kicked off, Markelle knew that he had to make some lifestyle changes if he wanted to survive in this league. He began working out religiously, chasing after cop cars in the back streets of Philadelphia like some rabid dog; he began obsessing over nutrition and counting calories; but perhaps most importantly, he began reevaluating himself from the perspective of a fan. He wanted to be the hero that every little kid looks up to growing up, and he knew that he couldn't achieve that level of stardom unless he eliminated the greasy food and poor attitude. If there was anybody who could set this kid straight, it was Jack Hoff.
"One day after practice, I went over to him, put my arm around him, and through drunken slurs I told him, 'listen kid, you're gonna make it. Whenever you feel down and out, just remember: Jack Hoff. I'll always be here for you,'" Jack recounted as he finished off his third Rum & Coke for the evening. "I don't know. Maybe it was something I said; or perhaps it was just me being there — but whatever it was, it lit a fire under him. He just went off."
Fast forward a few weeks later, and Markelle Fultz looked better than he ever had in college. His attitude had changed for the better, and it showed in his swagger. He began schooling teammates in practice, often challenging them to "stop him from scoring you f*ckin p*ssy" — but they couldn't. Nobody could stop Markelle Fultz — nobody, that is, except for the general manager, who had no interest in rewarding his young rookie with playing time when other players were over-performing.
Once again, Markelle Fultz was on the outside looking in. He felt that all of his hard work was for naught; he continued to ride the bench despite his drastic turnaround and changed demeanor. Rather than returning to the dangerous world of cheesesteaks, however, he found refuge in becoming a full-time cheerleader for his teammates. The once multidimensional athlete quickly became the team's most beloved mascot, often seen jumping with joy on the sideline. But still, his debut eluded him.
So, why wasn't he playing? Journalists and fans were equally baffled, as Markelle was neither injured nor out of shape. In fact, Markelle had done everything in his ability to earn playing time — yet still he rode the bench.
"I must admit, there was a few times when I wanted to just call it quits — just give up — but I knew that I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that to the fans. I couldn't do that to the team who put so much faith in me," he admits. "So rather than causing trouble, I decided to keep working hard. I decided to take up a hobby. That's when I first discovered my passion for finger-painting."
"I decided to take up a hobby. That's when I first discovered my passion for finger-painting."
It should come as no surprise that a multidimensional athlete with the length and grace of a gazelle could also become an exceptional finger-painter, especially when you compare his work with the likes of others from the local elementary school. His long fingers and soft touch are just as ideal for painting as they are for basketball. Much like his jump shot, his selected works are also silky smooth and thought-provoking — so much so, you can't help but wonder if he possibly pursued the wrong career path.
"Yo, on the real though, this paint game is tough. You ever try to pay tribute to the Mona Lisa with your own personal rendition? It ain't easy that's for damn sure," Markelle recollected as he continued working on his next piece, titled Alone In Kyoto. "This little hobby has become a full-blown passion for me. It's become an outlet for my frustrations. Whether it's basketball, family, or life in general that's got me down — I can always find refuge in the cozy confines of my own personal art studio, located right outside Temple University."
Markelle's abstract depiction of Game 4 of the 2017 PBSL Finals
It didn't take long for his passion to manifest into something much larger: A new way of thinking. Painting became not only an outlet for his frustrations, but also a motivator on the basketball court. He learned to slow things down in practice and focus on the smaller details, something he picked up on whilst painting. He realized that it was the little differences and details, not the big plays, that make up the bigger picture.
"If I can slow things down for just a moment and see things for what they really are, I can use that to my own benefit. Whether it's basketball or finger-painting, it's all about having your life in the palm of your hands and making the best out of what you've got. And that's wassup!" Markelle remarked as he threw a fist full of Port Au Prince on the empty canvas.
The season ended without Markelle Fultz logging a single minute for the 76ers. Other players, such as Tony Wroten, saw playing time this season — but not Markelle, who spent the remainder of the season embracing his new role as head cheerleader. Rather than beat himself up over the past season (or lack thereof), he'd rather remain optimistic heading forward. In fact, he attributes much of the team's success to his ability to rally his teammates when they're down.
"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. When coach calls timeout, I'll call the boys over and show them one of my recent paintings, and usually they'll look at me like I'm insane or something, but I think they get it. I think it lights a fire under them, because it sure as hell lights a fire under me," Markelle jokes as he reflects on the season. "Regardless of my role next season, I'll be ready with paint on my fingertips — you can count on that."