A former No. 1 overall pick seeks to reignite his NBA career, joining the Raptors' G League affiliate.
The Toronto Raptors organization has added a basketball veteran to its system as a former top NBA prospect looks to revive his career.
The Raptors’ G League affiliate, Raptors 905, announced that they have claimed guard Markelle Fultz off waivers, bringing the former No. 1 overall pick into the organization.
Fultz, now 27 years old, will join Raptors 905 as he attempts to work his way back onto an NBA roster after spending the 2025-26 season out of the league. At the very least, the opportunity provides Fultz with another chance to showcase his skills after injuries and inconsistency derailed what once looked like a promising career.
The move represents a low-risk opportunity for the Raptors organization to evaluate a player who once entered the league with enormous expectations. Toronto currently has an open roster spot on its NBA team, meaning a strong stretch in the G League could potentially put Fultz back on the radar for a late-season call-up or future contract.
While the signing is technically for the G League, it also provides the Raptors’ front office with a close look at a veteran guard who still possesses NBA experience.
A Former Top Pick Searching for a Comeback
Fultz was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers after a standout freshman season at the University of Washington.
During his lone college season, he averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the country.
However, Fultz’s NBA career never unfolded as many expected. Early in his time with the 76ers, he developed a rare nerve condition in his shoulder that dramatically altered his shooting mechanics and stalled his development.
He eventually moved on from Philadelphia and spent several seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he showed flashes of the all-around playmaking ability that once made him such a coveted prospect. Across his NBA career with the 76ers, Magic, and Sacramento Kings, Fultz has appeared in 255 games (164 starts) while averaging 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
His most recent NBA stint came with the Sacramento Kings during the 2024-25 season, where he appeared in 21 games and averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 assists in limited minutes.
Raptors 905 now adds Fultz to fill a roster need after the team recently lost several players to NBA call-ups.