Lonzo Ball: A Man of Many Talents

By Andreas Fanos on October 31, 2017

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a stellar organization for many years, winning many championships and playing as a cohesive unit. The team has fallen off in recent years with the great Kobe Bryant retiring and losing other players.

They have now gone forward with a youth movement in drafting young players for the future. One of the key acquisitions this year was the addition of Lonzo Ball out of UCLA with the second pick in the draft.

Photo of Lonzo Ball found on Wikimedia Commons by TonyTheTiger

There are many questions left for Lonzo Ball. Is he a bust? Can he find his shooting? Can he bring the Lakers to the playoffs after years of drought? Can he lead a team? These questions are all credible and even though it is still early in the season, many of these can be answered now.

Just six games into the season and from the Summer League it is evident that Ball is a very talented basketball player. His ability to pass the ball wherever on the floor is uncanny and terrific. Being able to pass the ball for a guard makes the game fluid for others and creates easy opportunities for points and that is exactly what Lonzo does. It also can not be taught; it is a skill that a player either has or not.

Ball has obviously been inconsistent in his first year in the league, but this is expected from a rookie. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 10 points per game, 7.7 assists per game, to go along with 7.5 rebounds as stated by the ESPN database. The only aspect of his game that he needs to work on is shooting the ball more consistently and at a higher percentage. His field goal percentage is at about 31 percent and he is shooting 28 percent from the three-point line.

The guard did have a great game against the Phoenix Suns in arguably his best game of the season scoring 29 points with 9 assists and 11 rebounds. He has to play like this more consistently if he wants to play in the league and get better. That specific game was a testament to what he can do on the floor as he leads his team to victory.

Other than playing basketball, he also raps on the side. He dropped track “Get Off,” which is available on multiple platforms, including Apple Music. The single has a killer beat and it shows his nice flow behind some memorable lyrics. He is not bad either rapping as a basketball player, but others in the league are now. He has two other tracks labeled “Super Saiyan,” and “Zo2.” Both of the tracks show his flow and coming up from the doubt.

There are too many references to diamonds in his songs though. It is just something special to see that he plays professional basketball and can rap on the side. It gives more into his character and personality. He is not amazing at rapping; he is in the middle.

Photo found on Wikimedia Commons by TonyTheTiger

It is evident that he has a lot of pressure and a lot on his plate. Just turning 20 years old, everybody is talking about him, good and bad about being a bust, and there is always attention around his father. His father talks a lot; however, he is just being a supportive father and giving confidence to his son. A lot of sons would love a father like how he is. Lavar Ball can be too much at times, but he is just doing his job and it is working.

Lonzo Ball has room to grow as a player. He can get bigger and he very well is still growing. That is the only thing he is missing right now in his game. Ball is rebounding very well for a guard and racking up plenty of assists. What makes him so special is his unselfishness to pass the ball first above all; he is a team player.

Other than that, he is also not very vocal at all. At games, he is quiet or reserved but seems to be determined and to lead by example. He so far has not shown much emotion. Lonzo Ball truthfully just needs time to develop.

The point guard is no LeBron James, however many rumors over the past year have connected LeBron going to LA to expand his business and brand. So there is a chance that the best player currently in the league and one of the best to go down to play the game could unite with Ball and the other young talent on the team. Paul George also declared earlier in the year about wanting to go to the Lakers and play for them.

If this happens, the Lakers will no longer be good, but formidable. They will be able to win championships and there is no doubt that LeBron would make the team much better. The move makes sense because he does not owe the Cleveland Cavaliers anything after bringing them a title to end a plaguing championship drought.

I do not believe that the Lakers will make the playoffs this year with the tough competition in the West. The Western Conference is stacked, compared to the Eastern with many star players choosing to go to the West, like Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, and others.

People need to realize that Lonzo Ball is the real deal. He knows how to play the game and the right way by passing the ball first and being a complete team player. His rebounding and dishing the ball has already impressed; now his shot just has to develop. And when it does, there will be no team or opponent that will be able to subdue it.

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