NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Markelle Fultz walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

When it comes to being drafted by a professional sports team, more goes into a player’s preference of where they want to play than actual on-the-court things. Sure, everyone wants to play for a great team or at least play on a team who is on the rise, but you also have to look at other things to determine whether or not you will be happy playing in that city

For No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Markelle Fultz, that involved Chick-fil-A.

In a piece on The Players’ Tribune, Fultz introduced himself to the city of Philadelphia and described what he experienced over the past few months. As the likely No. 1 pick, it appeared likely that Fultz was going to the Boston Celtics. But when news broke last week that the Philadelphia 76ers were trading for the top pick in the NBA Draft, all that changed. When he heard the news that he was working out for the Sixers, Fultz’s first thought was about fast-food chicken sandwiches.

A lot happened last week. It’s crazy that it’s only been seven days since I got invited to Philly. I found out last Friday morning. I woke up and thought I was going to Boston for another workout with the Celtics.

Then Keith [Fultz’s trainer] hit me up and said, “New plan. Philly.”

I was just waking up. So I was like, “O.K., cool. Do they have Chick-fil-A there?”

A crispy chicken sandwich for breakfast. It’s kind of like my good luck charm. Keith never got back to me about that important question. So I found out for myself. I googled it immediately.

Philly does have Chick-fil-A. It has six, actually.

Seven if you count the one at the airport. Boston has zero Chick-fil-As, for what it’s worth.

Can’t really blame him, Chick-fil-A is pretty good. Fultz noted that the Sixers somehow found out he loves Chick-fil-A so much that they had sandwiches at his workout with them that day. So even before they made it official last night, it seemed that the Sixers and Markelle Fultz was a match made in heaven.

Fultz also talked in the Players’ Tribune piece about how he had to trust his own “process.” Fultz was cut from his varsity high school basketball team in his sophomore year, and even though many told him to transfer and not risk missing out on a potential collegiate and pro career, he and his mom decided to stay and prove the doubters wrong.

I’m sure Markelle Fultz would have been happy to play for the Boston Celtics, even if there’s no Chick-fil-A there. Fast food probably isn’t a deal-breaker when it comes to where you play in the NBA. But while it’s fortunate that Fultz found a city that has Chick-fil-A, it seems that he found a team who fits with him. You can be the most talented player in your sport but if you don’t have a team that works with your mindset and personality in addition to the comforts off-the-court, your on-court play will suffer.

Markelle Fultz, along with his Sixers teammates, seem to be fitting right in and are going to try and prove wrong those who don’t trust the process.

[The Players’ Tribune]

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

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