Markelle Fultz’s career took a sharp turn because of a real shoulder/nerve injury that wrecked his shooting form early on, and since then he’s bounced between recovery, role changes, and now G League work to stay in the league.

What actually happened early on

  • As a rookie with the 76ers, Fultz developed serious issues lifting and shooting the ball, and his once-smooth jumper suddenly broke down in games.
  • After a lot of confusion and speculation about the “yips,” doctors eventually diagnosed him with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) , a nerve-related condition between the neck and shoulder that affects arm movement and made it hard for him to shoot normally.
  • Fultz has repeatedly said it was an injury, not a mental breakdown, and that it physically stopped him from raising his arms and following a normal shooting path.

How his NBA path changed

  • Philadelphia managed his minutes cautiously and eventually traded him to the Orlando Magic, where he rebuilt his game as more of a slashing, playmaking guard than a pull-up shooter.
  • In Orlando, he had stretches of solid play but also more injury issues, and he never fully became the star-level scorer people expected from a number one pick.
  • After his Magic stint ended, he went unsigned for a period and then resurfaced with the Sacramento Kings in 2025, fighting for a backup point guard role and even getting brief G League assignments with their affiliate (Stockton) to get reps.

Where he is now

  • In early 2025, reports had him signing with the Kings, bouncing between the NBA team and their G League squad to build rhythm and conditioning while competing for backup minutes.
  • By March 2026, records show Fultz signing with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League, signaling that he’s still trying to stay on the pro radar and work his way back toward a stable NBA role.
  • So if you’re wondering “what happened to Markelle Fultz,” the short version is: a rare shoulder/nerve injury derailed his development and shot mechanics, and he’s been grinding through trades, injuries, and G League stints ever since to keep his career alive.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.