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University of Washington standout Markelle Fultz has his eyes on the prize and will do what it takes to get there. That of course includes beating out rival UCLA freshman point guard Lonzo Ball, who's slotted only one pick behind him in this year's NBA Draft.
Fultz followed his workout with the Boston Celtics with his second workout with the Los Angeles Lakers, as the teams hold the No. 1 and 2 selections in the draft.
“I think it was a family decision, just going through it,” Fultz told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. “Giving everybody the opportunity. Never know where I might land, so just wanted to see how it is out here.”
The Lakers have now worked out the players who are likely to be in the top four of the table — Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox, Kansas forward Josh Jackson, Ball, and Fultz.
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Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4 scoring machine has grown into the maniacal rivalry with Ball, hoping to beat him in each and every aspect, even before they go head-to-head against each other.
“I’m a competitor,” Fultz said. “Anybody that’s in front of me I’m going to try to take them out. Lonzo’s a great guard so we’ll compete for the same position. Just stepping on the court, I’m going to try to beat him in everything I do. Just tie my shoes faster and everything.”
The Ball-Fultz rivalry could be something worth watching coming into the 2017-18 season, as both of these prospects could potentially be in a close battle for Rookie of the Year.
Fultz has only met with a handful of teams, as he's expected to be selected No. 1 overall come next Thursday, but didn't shut the door in any other potential workouts or meetings, after talking to Lakers executives for a second time.
“Really to me it doesn’t matter; wherever I go I’m going to be the same guy,” Fultz said. “I’m going to be humble. Of course coming here, like you said with the Hollywood lights it’s going to be great publicity. I’ll get my brand out there and just build it myself.”
