Here’s what Markelle Fultz said — and saw –during his visit to Boston
"I gotta earn everything."
It’s possible Markelle Fultz never saw the sun during his rainy, two-day visit to Boston this week.
The former University of Washington guard was here meeting with officials from the team which holds the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Fultz worked out for Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens, took a physical, and even grabbed a burger with the Celtics president of basketball operations at the local b.good chain.
https://twitter.com/JeremyRubin10/status/871896533205176322
“Everything went well,” Ainge told the Boston Globe following the visit. “He’s very talented. … “Every time I sit down and talk to him, I just get to know him a little better. He’s a great kid.”
Fultz spoke to two news outlets — ESPN and CSNNE — while in Boston. He told CSNNE that meeting with the Celtics was “a good experience”, and that he was able to navigate the city without being noticed too much.
“People didn’t really recognize me,” said Fultz. “I wear hats and hoodies so it’s kind of hard to see me. I stay low-key. That’s the way I am.”
The only news of sorts to come out of Fultz’s chat with CSNNE is that Fultz hasn’t committed to working out for any other teams, but he hasn’t ruled it out, either.
Fultz may have remained fairly inconspicuous during the trip, but he did give Celtics fans a glimpse of what he looks like in a Celtics uniform.
Markelle Fultz in Celtics gear: pic.twitter.com/Wy7hbAyktY
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) June 6, 2017
In addition, he checked out the banners at TD Garden and the mural in front of the locker room.
Markelle Fultz checks out the banners at TD Garden during a tour with ESPN. Says it kinda feels like he belongs here. pic.twitter.com/5DV1EEygip
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) June 6, 2017
Markelle Fultz outside Celtics locker room. It’s also Boston’s war room and where they will phone in the No. 1 pick. pic.twitter.com/HIiV2lg0nD
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) June 6, 2017
Fultz told ESPN that he would like to wear the No. 20, last worn in Boston by Ray Allen.
“I would want to wear No. 20, just because a lot of history behind that number, through high school and college,” Fultz said. “[But] it doesn’t really matter about the number; it matters about what I do.”
But Fultz also isn’t counting his chickens, and says he has no promises from the Celtics that he’ll be the pick, adding, “I gotta earn everything.”
Did the Celtics tell Markelle Fultz he’d go No. 1? “No, no, no… They didn’t put that out there. I gotta earn everything.” pic.twitter.com/GeHcAeXZVz
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) June 6, 2017
The Celtics may visit with Fultz again, and Ainge said the Celtics are working on setting up visits with other players. Fultz made it clear during his visit that he’d be happy to end up here.
“It’s crazy. I think it’s a great organization,” Fultz told ESPN. “They really care about you, on and off the court. They really just want the best for young men and people like me. They told me stuff I need to work on, they told me stuff that was good. I think that’s the biggest thing, just helping me grow on and off the court, it’s always what I’ve been about and I think that’s special.”
