Usually, it’s LaVar Ball that makes news for what he says.
His eldest son is now getting in on the business of generating headlines with something other than his play.
The UCLA star, who said he’ll enter the draft after just one season with the Bruins, claimed he’s the better prospect than Washington freshman Markelle Fultz, who many have pegged as the No. 1 pick in June’s draft.
“Markelle’s a great player,” Ball said, according to ESPN, “but I feel I’m better than him,” “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.”
Not exactly inflammatory stuff - like saying you could have beaten Michael Jordan, that you want a $1 billion apparel deal or a number of things his father has said - bu Ball is certainly projecting confidence. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. There’s quite a bit of money - and pride - at stake with the draft, and Ball put up a season worthy of comparison to Fultz, who had great numbers but played for an abysmal Washington team. Ball, on the other had, had strong numbers while leading UCLA to the Sweet 16.
Both are going to go at the top of a draft that’s stocked full of promising point guards. Which player goes before the other remains to be seen, but it’s likely public pronouncements aren’t going to affect the draft order.