When the NBA Draft rolls around on Thursday, Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball will be forever linked as two of the top prospects in their class. Fultz, of course, is now likely headed to the Sixers after this weekend’s blockbuster pick swap with the Boston Celtics, while Ball’s future in L.A. has become increasingly cloudy following underwhelming workouts with his hometown team.
But Fultz and Ball were apparently almost linked in another way off the court.
Via Cindy Boren of The Washington Post:
Both young men stand to make a fortune with a shoe/apparel deal, too. While Lonzo is already (possibly) cashing in on those $500 sneakers, Fultz inked a multiyear deal with Nike late last week. But before doing so, he apparently entertained the idea of signing with Big Baller Brand, of all companies. In an exchange relayed by The Post’s Babb, the young prospect discussed the idea with his trainer, Keith Williams:
Williams: You sure you don’t want to sign with them?
Fultz: I was thinking about it, but then I would make him money, though.
Williams: Or lose them more money.
[Babb asks if there was serious consideration for Team Fultz to join Big Baller Brand]
Fultz: I don’t know, honestly.
Williams: I don’t think they’ve got money to sign nobody.
It’s difficult to tell from this exchange just how seriously anyone in Fultz’ camp considered this before ultimately signing on with Nike. Despite LaVar Ball’s desperate and incessant bloviating, Big Baller Brand is a suspect upstart that will likely continue to struggle in attracting talent as it tries to carve out its niche.
Losing Fultz to the Beaverton-based shoe and apparel giant has to sting at least a little for Ball, given that he apparently legitimately believes BBB will one day emerge as a viable challenger in the market, no matter how hopelessly optimistic and/or delusional that might be.
