With the NBA draft nearly a month and a half away, potential lottery teams like the Celtics, Suns, and Lakers, and basketball fans alike debate: who should be taken first overall? A pair of freshman point guards from Pac-12 schools, Lonzo Ball of UCLA and Markelle Fultz from the University of Washington, dominate the discussion.
In 25 games, Fultz averaged 23.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.7 RPG, while shooting 47.6% from the floor. Although Fultz’s Huskies finished 9-22 and did not qualify for the postseason, the 6’4″ prospect was named First Team All Pac-12 for his performance.
Ball, too, was named to the First Team, after averaging 14.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG on 55.1% shooting, while leading the nation with 7.6 APG. Ball’s Bruins finished 31-5 and were eliminated by Kentucky in the Sweet 16.
In an Insider-only piece at ESPN, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton discuss potential sleepers to be selected first, but ultimately decide that it comes down to Fultz and Ball. After making the case for both players as the potential No. 1 pick, the duo diverges, with Ford leaning toward Fultz and Pelton preferring Ball.
What do you think? Should Ball or Fultz be drafted first? Or should someone else entirely go No. 1?
Vote below on which player you believe merits the honor of being the first name called on draft night. After placing your vote, share your thoughts in the comments section!
Fultz. Better college stats and more potential. But I’d rather have come to the Knicks than be first overall.
Also Ball will only be a Rajon Rondo type of player.
Lonzo can shoot it like crazy. And having Rondo’s career doesn’t look half bad.
Really? Cause I got to see him several times living out here in PAC-12 country (live & on TV) and I never saw anything that led me to believe that he will have even an average outside shot. You must have seen different games than I did.
Don’t all the ball kids have a awkward looking shots.
You say having a Rondo type career is a bad thing…
I think Fultz is the better player and if I’m a team I wouldn’t want to deal with Lavar
I have a feeling ball will slip. He doesn’t have all star potential, so why risk it with off the court issues.
lonzo doesn’t do anything wrong off-court his dad is the one being stupid.
Which is why he might slip. No way he stays out of his kids business
If Lonzo is smart and hires a real agent then his dad won’t become an issue anymore
It depends on who gets the first pick.
His dad is running everything for the kid. You couldn’t pay me to draft him first overall with all the stuff his dad will say. Fultz has better numbers and will be a better play with so many less problems
Ball Baggage Brand is a risk not worth taking! Fakers love him…let magic have him…keeps fakers in 2nd tier for a long time. He will have to mortgage the future to get him.
Chad Ford doesn’t work at ESPN anymore.
He’s staying with ESPN through the draft.
Fultz all the way
If I were running the team with the first pick, I would take Fultz
Wasn’t it Jordan who said if you’re the best you shouldn’t have to tell anyone. I don’t care how much success Lonzo has his ego will keep him from being the GOAT. And if you think its all his dad then you are naïve. He may not be a public dunce like his father but he has shown signs of having just as bad of an ego and the fact he still follows his dad’s “brand” is a major red flag to me
I’m not convinced of either to be honest.
Ball has his obvious baggage with his dad. He seems like he cares more about being a brand than a player. He might end up being a good player, but I would just avoid the headache altogether.
Fultz has good stats, but how excited can you get about a guy that was the leader of a 9-22 team? People may say winning is not just about one player, but it really is in basketball more than any other sport. Take LeBron off the Cavs and you have a #8 seed at best. Stats are great and all, but if you can’t win in the Pac-12, what are you going to do against NBA competition?
If I had the #1 pick, I would go with Josh Jackson without a doubt. Obviously if you NEED a PG, you might take one of the other two, although I would rather have De’Aaron Fox. For just best player available, I’d go Jackson.
Fultz. I would definitely avoid Lonzo and whatever fake BBB Kobes his dad is cooking up. Anyway, Fultz was better in college and has a higher potential.
1.Celtics: Fultz
2.Lakers: Ball
3.Suns: Josh Jackson