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Markelle Fultz wants to beat Lonzo Ball in 'everything I do' as 2017 NBA Draft looms

By The Sports Xchange

One day after projected No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, possible No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball takes his turn at impressing club brass on Friday.

The Lakers possess the second pick in Thursday's draft and it is likely the franchise will be choosing between Ball, the former UCLA point guard, Kansas forward Josh Jackson and Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox.

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Los Angeles will also be meeting with Ball's outspoken father, LaVar, on Friday.

The Lakers worked out Fultz in case the Washington standout guard doesn't end up going first in the draft. The Boston Celtics own the No. 1 overall selection.

Fultz termed the decision to work out for the Lakers as a "family decision."

"Never know where I might land, so I just wanted to see how it is out here," Fultz told reporters.

Fultz said he could easily mix with Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell due to the versatility both players have in their game.

He also addressed the competition with Ball to be the top overall pick.

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"I'm a competitor, so anybody that's in front of me, I'm going to try to take them out and Lonzo is a great guard," Fultz said. "We're both competing for the same positions, so just stepping out on the court, I'm going to try and beat him in everything I do. If that's tying my shoe faster or anything, it really doesn't matter."

Meanwhile, Ball may choose to work out for some teams below the Lakers in the draft order. He has declined to work out for the Celtics and will wait until after he sees how Friday's workout with the Lakers goes before making that decision.

One thing complicating Ball's situation is that teams are apprehensive of his father, who has rubbed a lot of people wrong over the past seven-plus months while trying to promote Lonzo and his two younger brothers.

Fox, who badly outplayed Ball in an NCAA Tournament game when he outscored his counterpart 39-to-10, is tired of hearing LaVar's over-the-top comments.

"In the last year, he became relevant for some reason," Fox told Sports Illustrated. "When I knew Lonzo in high school, I'd never seen his dad before. He went crazy this year. I guess when your son is a lottery pick, that gives you a lot of confidence."

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Fox and Jackson both worked out for the Lakers on Tuesday.

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