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Los Angeles Lakers braintrust agrees to not change Lonzo Ball’s shooting form

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 8: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz on April 8, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 8: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz on April 8, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball will not be changing his shooting form this offseason.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball had an up-and-down first season in the NBA. He battled numerous injuries, as a shoulder problem, knee strain and knee bruise caused him to miss 30 games.

Those injuries were a big reason that the Lakers season derailed. It took the Lakers a long time to adjust to playing without their leading playmaker and passer. Despite those injuries, Ball showed how much he can impact a game.

Ball averaged 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. His defense was also better than anticipated. Coming out of UCLA, one of the weaker points of his game was his considered his defense. However, he proved that he is a capable defender in the NBA.

Ball’s size was a difference maker at the top of the Lakers’ defense. He handled himself well alongside defensive ace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Ball averaged 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game in his rookie season.

Despite all of the positives that Ball provided this season, people still focused on his shooting. Ball’s jump shot just never got going this season. Ball had one good stretch of games shooting, making multiple 3-pointers in six consecutive games from Dec. 12-Dec. 23. He also scored in double-figures in each of those six games.

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Ball’s form was arguably the biggest concern people had when he came out of college. Those concerns were not put to rest in his rookie season. Ball’s odd shooting form limits some of the things he can do offensively, such as taking a pull-up jump shot.

With the lack of success at the NBA level, there were questions about whether Ball would have his shooting form changed. However, there are no plans for things to change.

The Lakers brain trust of head coach Luke Walton, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka were all in agreement a change would not be occurring.

Pelinka offered some insight into the decision making.

"“When we’re evaluating shooting mechanics, the two biggest things we’re looking at is the release and spin on the ball, and the arch, the trajectory of the ball,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said on the final day of exit interviews.“We’ve studied those two things on Lonzo. He has a very beautiful release. His ball spins very true, he’s got good arch on the ball. There’s been other shooters that are Hall-of-Fame players, like Reggie Miller, who have unorthodox strokes but have been great shooters. We don’t really talk or think about changing how he shoots.”"

If Ball can improve his shooting from the court, there is hope that his free throw shooting will also improve as a result. Ball shot an unsightly 45.1 percent from the foul line. Darren Collison, who led the NBA by knocking down 46.8 percent of his 3-pointers, was more likely to knock down a 3-point shot in a game than Ball was to make an uncontested free throw.

A positive takeaway from all of this is that Ball knows that he needs to improve. He is willing to put in the work and there is a plan in place to help him achieve that goal of improving this offseason.

"“Probably my main focus is scoring from all levels. Especially off the pick-and-roll, getting in the paint,” Ball said. “I feel like if I can add that to my game it would help a lot. Floaters, pull-ups, stuff of that nature.”"

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As we saw this season, Ball can impact the game in many ways even when his jump shot isn’t falling. He brings a lot to the table on both ends of the court. If he is able to score the ball more consistently, he will become that much more dangerous of a player.

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