As the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz hopes to someday be the type of player who is in debates as one of the greatest players of all-time.

For now, though, as he prepares for his rookie season, Fultz will have to settle for weighing in on the LeBron James-Kobe Bryant debate that has resurfaced in recent weeks.

Fultz was recently asked which of the two legendary players he thinks is better, and he gave a thoughtful and understandable answer.

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Fultz explained that he thinks Kobe's championships have a lot to do with why he thinks the Black Mamba is better than LeBron. However, he added that he believes LeBron can someday catch and surpass Bryant (via SlamOnline.com):

“I think Kobe’s better, but that’s no knock on LeBron. But Kobe’s, I mean, the next thing after Jordan, really," he said. "Championships do have a role to play with it, but when you just look at the work that Kobe has done, it’s unbelievable.

“I think [LeBron’s] up there. I think he got some ways to go... I think he’s on the way there. He’s a great player. I think he’s the best player right now.”

That's a very fair answer, and one that won't upset anyone, as he was quite complimentary of LeBron, too. However, his 76ers will have to face James's Cleveland Cavaliers several times during the upcoming season, and LeBron may take Fultz's comments personally.

No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball, on the other hand, had a different response. The Los Angeles Lakers rookie picked LeBron as the better player, even though he'll now play on the same court where Bryant once called home (via Yahoo! Sports): 

“My favorite player was LeBron growing up,” Ball said. “But, I mean, [Michael Jordan] does have a point. Championships do mean a lot. But it’s tough. I mean, I’m a Laker, so I want to go with Kobe, but I’ve been saying LeBron my whole life, so I’m going to go with LeBron.”

Though that answer probably won't make Ball's new fan base too happy, it's hard to fault him for going with his favorite player.

And, to be fair, no matter who you choose - LeBron or Kobe - you really can't go wrong. Bryant was one of the best pure scorers of all-time and James is one of the greatest all-around players ever to step foot on an NBA court.