Markelle Fultz reworked his jump shot. Can the 76ers trust it?

Markelle Fultz seemed predestined for NBA stardom before a mysterious shoulder injury and the deterioration of his jump shot essentially sabotaged his rookie season. Fultz’s goal at the onset of his second year in the league is simple: prove he can still be the player the 76ers thought they were drafting with the No. 1 overall pick, starting with a refined jumper.

Fultz has been in the gym with super trainer Drew Hanlen all summer reworking his jump shot. He showed it off in a new video with the Players Tribune on Thursday.

The shot looks better than it did last season, sure. But if Fultz’s jumper really fixed?

Fultz wasn’t just a capable shooter in college: his shooting ability was one of the biggest strengths in his game. As a freshman, Fultz knocked down 41.3 percent of his threes on five attempts per game.

What made Fultz a special shooter as a college player was his ability to hit shots off the dribble going in either direction. Defenses that had to account for Fultz’s dynamic slashing ability had no answer when he would quickly pull-up for a three-pointer in the opposition’s face.

Fultz’s college shooting stroke was quick and fluid, with a high release he could snap into at a moment’s notice. His off-the-dribble shooting ability earned the ultimate co-sign from another DC native: Kevin Durant.

No one questioned Fultz’s jumper ahead of the draft. Things changed quickly once his rookie season began.

Markelle Fultz’s rookie season was one of the strangest in recent league history. He was shut down by the Sixers after four games in the regular season because of an apparent shoulder injury that coincided with the total decay of his jump shot.

Here’s a shot Fultz took in the final game of his early season stint against the Pistons:

Fultz would return for 10 games at the end of the year, but he still didn’t look right. On the season, Fultz attempted only one three-pointer and went 10-of-21 (47 percent) from the foul line. Some blamed personal trainer Keith Williams for reworking the shot and ultimately ruining his jumper. Others believed Fultz had a case of the yips, and that it was a mental hurdle that was preventing him from shooting the way he did in college.

There is obviously a massive hitch in Fultz’s shot as a rookie that wasn’t there in college. These free throws are legitimately tough to watch:

The shooting mechanics are just cringeworthy, especially for a player who once had such great touch from anywhere on the court. Fultz still showed off some NBA ready skills — he had a triple-double in one game before the playoffs — but his inability to make a jump shot earned him DNPs throughout Philadelphia’s run in the postseason.

Could Fultz fix his jumper with a full offseason to get his shoulder and mind in the right place?

Let’s go back to the Players Tribune video:

A few observations:

Regardless of the real reason for Fultz’s poor shooting form as a rookie, it’s clear he had zero confidence in shot. If that changes in year two, the Sixers suddenly have a player they can trust on the court in high-leverage situations.

Fultz still has so much going for him as a player. He has great size for a lead guard, a terrific combination of length and instincts as a defender, and still has the ball handling and slashing ability that made him such a tough cover in college. All he needs is that jump shot.

If the Sixers are getting College Fultz, the entire complexion of their season changes. Philadelphia needs a third star next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. It needs a dynamic lead guard to alleviate ball handling duties from Simmons. All Fultz has to do is be confident and capable as a jump shooter.

We’ll see.