Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has had some lofty expectations put on him, but none could be as lofty as what Jason Kidd said.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball has some high expectations. The expectations only heightened once Ball landed with the Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Part of those expectations derives from his father, LaVar Ball, making boastful statements. LaVar has the utmost confidence in his sons on the basketball court and believes they can hang with anyone. Lonzo is the first of his three sons to make the NBA and is paving the way for his brothers.
Ball is a tantalizing prospect. Standing 6-feet-6 inches tall, he possesses elite size for a point guard. He will have a height advantage over almost everyone who attempts to defend him, which enables him to see the court. His court vision is near an elite level as well, as his passing skills are not matched by many young players.
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As a result, Ball has been compared to a number of great players. His size and skill set are a rare combination, but he has drawn comparisons to Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd.
Johnson has spoken highly of Ball since the Lakers drafted him. He dubbed Ball the face of the franchise, a distinction he used to hold as well. Kidd took it a step further in a recent podcast appearance.
Kidd appeared on The On Par Podcast discussing which players remind him of himself currently in the NBA. Ball was his selection, but his answer still provided a shocking response.
"“I guess the kid out of L.A. The Ball kid, Lonzo Ball. I guess he’s gotten a lot of comparison. Watching him in Vegas (at Summer League), he understands the floor, he understands the situation. He finds the open guy. Only time will tell. He might be better than I am.”"
Now that is some high praise. Kidd, who is currently the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, was one of the best point guards to ever play in the NBA. He was a 10-time All-Star, a five-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and an NBA Champion.
For someone with that kind of resume to say a player who has yet to play a minute in the regular season will draw some attention. Ball has the skill set to become one of the best players in the NBA, but he has a way to go.
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However, the potential is there for Ball. His passing has been infectious thus far with the Lakers and looks like he is going to be a leaders and building block for years to come.