Los Angeles Lakers guard, Lonzo Ball, was asked to cover up some ink he received over the summer on Wednesday evening.
Los Angeles Lakers sophomore Lonzo Ball made headlines Wednesday night when he made his preseason debut versus the Golden State Warriors. It marked the first time Ball played in a game since March.
Certainly, Ball’s first night back with the Lakers was not without its blemishes. For example, the one three-pointer he launched happened to be an air ball.
In spite of that, Ball had an acceptable night for the most part. In his return, the second-year point guard scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out two assists. Lonzo was very active on the defensive side of the ball as well, gathering four steals along the way.
What was also crucial to see was Ball getting acquainted with his new teammates. Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation notes the “early chemistry” the youngster generated with guys such as LeBron James.
Early in the second quarter on Wednesday, James threw a beautiful alley-oop pass to the 20-year-old for an easy deuce. Surely enough, this will not be the last time this occurs.
While highlights like this are definitely attention-grabbing, there is another facet of Ball’s preseason debut that cannot be ignored.
According to TMZ Sports, Ball was asked by the NBA to conceal the Big Baller Brand tattoo inscribed on his right arm. The L.A. Laker shielded the BBB emblem with a strip of tape.
While this may seem relatively petty, the NBA is simply abiding by its rulebook. Per the same TMZ Sports report, the league forbids players from “displaying any commercial logos or corporate insignia on their body or in their hair.”
That being said, the NBA is not singling out Ball or anything along those lines. As a matter of fact, Cleveland Cavalier J.R. Smith was slapped with a similar warning earlier in the preseason. The Cavs’ sharpshooter dons a tattoo of the logo of clothing brand Supreme.
Suffice to say, Smith was not too pleased when the NBA forced him to cover up ink on his right leg. Via what Christian Rivas of Lonzo Wire shares, the Cavs’ sharpshooter unhesitatingly unleashed a colorful social media post about the NBA’s warning.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoUhy1PnKpg/?hl=en&taken-by=teamswish
As of when this was written, Ball did not have anything to say about the NBA’s decision. It says a fair deal about Ball’s character. In other words, he is not going to let a rule regarding body ink affect him from a mental standpoint.
Another theory about Ball’s silence could merely be a matter of him not wanting to lose any money over the whole spiel. Per Moreno’s article, the NBA will fine anyone who does not obey this precept.
Granted No. 2 is probably not strapped for cash, it is safe to assume he will take the NBA’s rule seriously in 2018-2019.
Regulations regarding tattoos may appear to be unimportant. Tattoos are often gotten by players as a means for them to express themselves. Nonetheless, rules are rules, so to speak.