Lonzo Ball on Markelle Fultz ahead of the NBA Draft: 'I feel I'm better than him'

By Chris Bahr
Published

We’ve heard plenty of hype and bold proclamations from LaVar Ball in recent weeks, but now his NBA-bound son is doing some talking of his own.

Lonzo Ball, the UCLA point guard who announced after the Bruins’ Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky that he was headed to the pros, believes he should be the top overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft. And he stated his case for being selected over fellow freshman point guard Markelle Fultz -- projected by many as the top draft prospect -- during an interview on ESPN Radio on Tuesday.


"Markelle's a great player, but I feel I'm better than him," Ball said.  "I think I can lead a team better than him. Obviously he's a great scorer -- he's a great player, so I'm not taking that away from him."

Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports 

Ball averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and a Division I-leading 7.7 assists per game this season.

Fultz, meanwhile, averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for Washington.

For what it’s worth, UCLA won both meetings against Washington this season – by a combined 73 points – and finished 31-5 overall, compared to the Huskies at 9-22.