CJ Fulton training with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Though undrafted, the Belfast man now has a fresh opportunity to impress teams seeking new talent in the out-of-season competition.
Ireland’s only NBA player, Pat Burke, featured in the Summer League in the ’90s.
But while Burke was born here, Irish basketball could not claim credit for his development as he and his family emigrated to the USA from Offaly when he was just three-years-old.
Fulton, however, is shaped by the domestic game. He won the Super League as a 17-year-old in 2020 with Belfast Star and notably scored 15 three-pointers for St Malachy’s in a 2018 Under-16 All-Ireland Schools’ final.
His family — dad Adrian, mum Jackie, sisters Jennah and Katie — will be in the 20,000-seater Thomas & Mack Center when the next chapter begins against the New Orleans Pelicans (8.30pm).
Adrian — himself a former Ireland international — is unsure what happens next.
“I don’t know how much he’s going to play, it’s hard to know with these things. It’s not as if teams are truly trying to win this thing,” Fulton Snr said.
“It’s about giving guys exposure, it’s about giving some of their roster minutes during the summer. Different teams do it different ways.”
Even if CJ doesn’t secure one of the 450 NBA contracts, other opportunities may come from European teams or the NBA’s developmental G League.
“Once he got into the Summer League, I had no worries about him, to be honest. Now that he’s in that mix, whether he gets a contract or not, I think he’ll be fine,” his father added.
Burke’s experience could offer a glimpse of the future. He turned down a contract with the New York Knicks after his Summer League appearance, in favour of more playing time in Spain.
CJ’s big chance comes after his final year playing college basketball for NCAA Division I side College of Charleston in South Carolina.
The point guard helped the team to March Madness last year and, significantly, he boasted the best turnover-to-assist ratio in the United States for two seasons.
That earned the 23-year-old invitations to pre-draft training sessions with the Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets — and ultimately a call-up to the Summer League.
“He thought it was a wind-up initially,” his father recalled.
“He thought his agent pulled a masterstroke but it turned out to be just about his data — all that Moneyball-type stuff.
“They did a deep dive, talked to his coaches and they said, ‘We just can’t get past your numbers’.”
CJ trained with the team in Minneapolis at the start of this week, with assistant coach Kevin Hanson praising him as “a true point guard” but urged him to be sharper when shooting.
“I know I’m not going to be the kind of guy that’s going to shoot a lot of shots a game or put up a lot of points. I’ve just got to star in my role,” CJ told US reporters.
“The support from back home has been amazing. The Irish people just rally around you. I’m sure there will be a few Irish flags out in Vegas.”
The Timberwolves also face the Nuggets on Saturday, followed by games against Detroit (Tuesday) and Phoenix Suns (Wednesday) — all streamed on NBA League Pass.
The top four sides advance to the play-offs, but Fulton’s next steps that will be most closely watched at home.