Los Angeles Lakers: Gaining weight will be good for Lonzo Ball
By Nick Ziegler
The Los Angeles Lakers look to have a special rookie in Lonzo Ball. With his first offseason with the team underway, Ball is bulking up.
With the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to select Lonzo Ball. After just one season with UCLA, Ball decided to make the move to the NBA, and it certainly appears to have been the right one.
Despite battling some injuries toward the end of the season in college, Ball was able to shine in the Las Vegas Summer. After totaling two triple-doubles in the tournament, Ball was named the Summer League MVP.
While expectations were already high for Ball, winning the Summer League MVP certainly increased them. Now that the Lakers are preparing for the season, Ball has been in the weight room looking to add some size.
Like many one-and-done players, Ball was pretty thin at just 19-years-old. Last season, we saw Brandon Ingram struggle a bit in his rookie season because he simply wasn’t strong enough. Even though Ball is a point guard, he is working hard to put on some size.
In a recent interview with ESPN Los Angeles, LaVar Ball talked about his son gaining some weight before the start of the season. Here’s what Ball had to say via Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com
"“Yes, he’s always going to gain weight, he’s only 19-years-old. He’s close to 200 pounds right now. He’s going to grow into a man he’s gonna get that Ball weight later.”"
One of the things that could make Ball a truly great point guard is his size. At 6’6”, Ball is very tall for a point guard. With his height also comes the opportunity to put on some weight rather easily. Getting Ball over 200lbs is certainly something that will make him better, as he shouldn’t lose any quickness.
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With his tall frame at point guard, Ball can be a great weapon in the post, and also on defense for some positionless basketball. One of the takeaways for the offseason can certainly be the Lakers’ hard work in the weight room. Between Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, the young core of the Lakers is certainly putting in the hard work.