Sixers News: Markelle Fultz claims he was nervous he wasn’t going to be No. 1 pick

Everybody in the world knew Markelle Fultz was going to be the No. 1 pick in the draft once the Sixers moved up two slots in the draft to get him. Everyone, that is, except for Markelle Fultz.

The top selection in the 2017 NBA Draft got together with the rest of his class for a big photo shoot, and he was kind enough to lend a few minutes to NBA.com’s Lang Whitaker, who grilled Fultz on Chik-Fil-A, Sixers group texts, and playing alongside Ben Simmons. He also told Whitaker that until Silver called his name, he wasn’t convinced he would be the top pick.

“I didn’t [know], I was kind of nervous, because there’s always been times when you see draft boards say No. 1 pick, and next thing you know somebody else gets it,” said Fultz. “So I didn’t believe anybody until I really heard it, that’s when I knew.”

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Sixers already have beef with Lonzo Ball.

Considering the fanfare when Fultz came through town for his draft workout, the B.S. detectors are ringing off the hook here at Liberty Ballers HQ. I know this is pretty typical athlete speak, but come on, Markelle, you knew. Not even the internationally acclaimed Big Baller Brand could have changed that.

In other news, it sounds like you’re all doing a wonderful job of welcoming the new draftee to Philadelphia. Fultz says he’s heard the team’s catchphrase so many times that it is basically the same thing as saying, “Hi.”

“It’s been great really, everybody’s welcoming me, everywhere you go you hear, ‘Trust the process,’ that’s them saying hello,” said Fultz of his time in the city. “It’s love really. Everywhere you walk you see fans.”

The honeymoon period is bound to end at some point, but until then, make the new guy feel right at home.

And because I know this is the hard-hitting journalism you’re looking for, Fultz divulged his standard Chik-Fil-A order, and now you can share the diet of a world-class athlete.

Markelle Fultz Chik-Fil-A order

• 2 orders of 12 count chicken nuggets
• A No. 1 (Chicken sandwich, fries, drink) with no pickles. Occasionally he asks for cheese and bacon on the sandwich
• Large cookies and cream milkshake
• Sauces: BBQ and Chik-Fil-A sauce (used exclusively on his sandwich)

If I ate that much every time I went to Chik-Fil-A, you’d have to roll me around in a wheelbarrow, so credit to Fultz for eating like that and being as good as he is at basketball. Let’s just hope he sprinkles in a salad every so often.

You can watch the full interview with Whitaker below: