The union is official. After months of hinting toward the inevitable, Lonzo Ball will play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers next season. The Lakers took Ball with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, adding the UCLA Bruins standout point guard to a mix of young, talented players.
Lonzo Ball’s destiny with the Lakers has come true
After months of speculation, Lonzo Ball is a Los Angeles Laker.
Now, the Lakers will have to figure out how to make the pieces work for a team that posted the second-worst record in the West last year.
Adding Ball to the mix will help. The floor general wowed in his lone season at UCLA, averaging 14.6 points and 7.6 assists per game. He’s heralded for having the best court vision and passing skills in his class, and his 41.2 percent clip from downtown — albeit with a funky jump shot form — rounds out a versatile offensive attack.
The Lakers do have a lead guard on roster in D’Angelo Russell. They have another combo guard in Jordan Clarkson. They could have Paul George soon. But with Ball in town, one thing’s for sure: This is his show now, whether they like it or not.
Why should Lakers fans be excited about Ball?
Because he’s the best passer in the draft by far.
Ball isn’t just a good passer because we say so. He’s got the numbers to back it up. The ex-Bruins point guard recorded 254 assists as a freshman, breaking both UCLA’s assist record and Gary Payton’s PAC-12 record that stood unbeaten for 30 years. He joined T.J. Ford as only the second freshman ever to lead the Division I NCAA in assists (7.7 per game)
That’s more single-season assists than guys like T.J. Ford and Jason Kidd. The only active NBA player to record more dimes in a college season than Ball is Cleveland’s Kay Felder.
He’s the best transition playmaker in the draft with the headiness to see the floor while he attacks. Ball was also one of the best lob passers in college basketball last year.
He transformed UCLA from a disjointed team into one that flowed beautifully together.
Is there any reason to be nervous about Ball?
One word: LaVar. Ball’s father has been outspoken when it comes to his son. He’s said Lonzo Ball is better than Stephen Curry twice this year and has lacked a filter in media sessions.
LaVar’s comments could put a target on his son’s back, although Lonzo’s play on the court has the final say. Ball also has a hitch in his shot with a low release point. That shooting form could be an issue when lengthy defenders with active hands challenge his shot.
Lonzo Ball: Everything you need to know
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Tell me something else about Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is also a rapper and has dropped some fire bars in a few features. Here’s his remix to Drake’s song Free Smoke (WARNING: NSFW)
He is also primed to become the first top prospect not to sign with one of the three major sneaker companies: Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour. Instead, he released his own shoe, the ZO2: Prime, under his father’s Big Baller Brand at a retail price of $495. Here’s more info on his shoes.
Speaking of, his father is a pretty outspoken guy that you might have heard about.
How will Lonzo Ball fit with the Lakers?
The Lakers will need to do some rearranging. With Ball in tow, that means one of two things for D’Angelo Russell: Either a move to the off-guard slot or a move to a different city. Los Angeles is attempting to run a Golden State Warriors-style offense, one that Ball will thrive in as a transition playmaker who thrives on fast breaks. He also has a quick trigger from downtown, making him the perfect floor general for Luke Walton’s offense.
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