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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 goals for Lonzo Ball in the 2018-2019 season

By Anthony Santillo

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 11, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 11, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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3. Don’t fear Rajon Rondo, learn from him

The Lakers have definitely turned some heads this offseason with some of the acquisitions to go alongside Lebron James. Rajon Rondo was one that some people are still questioning. I personally love the signing.

Rondo is a proven veteran with tremendous work ethic and high basketball IQ. Both are traits you want from a veteran on a team with a significant amount of young players. People around the basketball world are saying why would go out and sign a player who will compete with Lonzo for playing time? Why the hell wouldn’t you?

The last thing you want from a young player with a ceiling a high as Lonzo’s is to get complacent and think his job is solidified. Signing Rondo immediately tells Lonzo he needs to put in work and never let up because if he does, his role might suffer.

Adding Rondo can help Lonzo in so many ways. Aside from the fact that they are very similar guards, Lonzo’s situation this year is almost identical to the situation Rondo faced when he was entering his sophomore season.

When Rondo was drafted by the Celtics, they were not a good team by any means. Their record was 24-58, which was good enough for dead last in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the entire league. Even last season’s Lakers were better than that.

However, after his rookie year, the Celtics had a big offseason acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, immediately establishing them as title contenders. Rondo had to go from being a rookie on a team that was nowhere near a title and not even close to a rebuild to a sophomore on a team where anything less than a championship was a failed season.

I don’t need to remind Lakers fans how that ended up working out. Rondo accepted the challenge and succeeded. Now, this is Lonzo’s turn to do the same. The Lakers made big moves this offseason and it looks as though they might not be done yet.

Lonzo needs to take this opportunity to learn from Rondo. Ask questions, watch some film with him, learn how he studies his teammates’ tendencies and uses them to their benefit. Most young players at the age of 20 would kill for the opportunity to learn from the players that Lonzo can this year, don’t waste it.

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