Markelle Fultz: I want to beat Lonzo Ball in 'everything I do'

It’s very likely that point guards Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball — the projected top-two picks in next week’s NBA draft — could become fierce rivals playing for the game’s two most storied franchises, as the Boston Celtics have the top pick and the Los Angeles Lakers hold the No. 2 spot.

Should that come to fruition, don’t expect it to be Magic Johnson-Larry Bird 2.0. However, Fultz provided a glimpse of his competitive nature during his workout with the Lakers on Thursday by complimenting Ball and promising to take it to him at the same time.

“I’m a competitor, so anybody that’s in front of me, I’m going to try to take them out,” Fultz said at the Lakers workout via The Associated Press. “Lonzo is a great guard, so we’re both competing for the same position. Stepping on the court, I’m going to try and beat him in everything I do, if that’s tying my shoe faster or anything.”

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Fultz, who averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists a game on an underachieving Washington Huskies squad, faced Ball’s superior UCLA team once in the collegiate ranks. The Bruins won 107-66, with Fultz scoring 25 points on 9-for-19 shooting. Ball, who averaged 14.6 points and led the nation in assists with 7.6 a game, registered 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor in that Pac-12 matchup.

While Ball has garnered more of the spotlight thanks to UCLA’s success and his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, Fultz has quietly been the likely top overall pick since the end of the college basketball season. He’s worked out for the Celtics and Lakers, and said he’d be “blessed” to play wherever.

Ball, meanwhile, wants to stay close to home and play for the Lakers. He also plans to work out for the Philadelphia 76ers, who have the No. 3 pick, in case he doesn’t get drafted by the Lakers. Ball also declined meeting with the Celtics, despite interest from C’s general manager Danny Ainge.

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