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Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball has been a major disappointment

By Dominic Torres

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball has been a major disappointment
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 8: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Big Baller has been everything BUT balling thus far in his rookie season

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball entered the league with a lot of hype surrounding him. A lot of that hype has come courtesy of his outspoken father, LaVar Ball.

Remember when LaVar Ball said this?

Or how about this?

Lonzo Ball, the most hyped up prospect in the 2017 draft, has failed to live up to his expectations in the first 14 games of the season.

Yes, Ball is an athletic, young prospect. Yes, he is a rookie, but he has more than his fair share of matchups where he should have dominated himself.

This is the same person who Magic Johnson has given the keys to the new age of post-Kobe Los Angeles. He is who scouts handed the title of a once-in-a-generational talent. We compared Ball to NBA legends such as Jason Kidd.

There are many games ahead of the schedule, but Lonzo Ball so far missed his opportunity to attract many new fans into the new “Showtime.”

Absolutely Putrid Statlines

Many NBA fans today don’t watch games due to time restraints or simply because they just want to watch highlights on YouTube. This is a problem. Although you can argue that impact is more important than statistics, it does not make the average NBA fan happy.

I will give Lonzo a Mulligan for his first game against the Clippers. He was shut down by one of the best shutdown defenders in Patrick Beverley. Beverley has a track record for stopping some of the best offensive players in the game.

Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and other top-notch point guards have fallen into his traps. He even added a First Team All-NBA Defense to his résumé for his play on the opposing end.

However, zero points against Damian Lillard and company is unacceptable. The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA in recent years. There is no excuse for Lonzo on that remark.

Overall, Lonzo Ball has been disappointing as a scorer. As Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal said:

"“You can’t play 29 minutes, be a Laker, and not score.”"

Check out these stat lines. Zero points at Portland. 3-of-15 against Brooklyn. A -24 plus/minus against New Orleans. Lonzo Ball has a horrendous track record on blown games by turnovers (notably against Utah). Ball has only scored over ten points four times.

Overall, he has averaged 9.5 points, 7.2 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. Add in he is struggling from the field. Ball is shooting at 31.3 percent overall, 25 percent from deep and 50 percent from the foul line. Ball’s shooting woes have continued, which may stem from being off the ball too often.

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