Markelle Fultz Said He Thought About Big Baller Brand Deal Before Nike Contract

Top NBA draft prospect Markelle Fultz already signed a deal with Nike, but he reportedly at least entertained the notion of signing with Big Baller Brand.

On Monday, Cindy Boren and Kent Babb of the Washington Post shared a conversation between Fultz and his trainer, Keith Williams, where the Washington product said, "I was thinking about it, but then I would make him money, though," when discussing the idea of signing with fellow draft prospect Lonzo Ball and Big Baller Brand.

Williams quipped, "I don't think they've got money to sign nobody."

Boren and Babb pointed out Fultz's signing with Nike was more of a loss for Under Armour than Big Baller Brand. Fultz is from the Washington D.C. area—near Under Armour's Baltimore headquarters—and played for an AAU team affiliated with Under Armour.

However, he still chose Nike, also forgoing the opportunity to represent Big Baller Brand and the nearly $500 shoes being sold as Ball heads to the NBA.

While Ball already said he feels like he is a better player than Fultz back in March, via Boren and Babb, the Washington guard said "we just don't talk about what we're going to do."

That means he will do his talking on the court with Nike and likely the Philadelphia 76ers. The Boston Celtics confirmed Monday they traded the top overall pick to Philadelphia in exchange for the No. 3 pick and future draft considerations, clearing the way for the Sixers to take Fultz and form a young core of the rookie, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid.

If that Philadelphia core does eventually reach the playoffs as it develops, Fultz will be leading the way in Nike shoes instead of Big Baller Brand.