Lonzo Ball was proclaimed the face of the Los Angeles Lakers a year ago, but after an injury-plagued offseason and the addition of Rajon Rondo, is Ball still the future?
I already know I’m going to have Los Angeles Lakers fans saying that its early and Lonzo Ball is still trying to ease himself back from injury, but hear me out.
Ever since Lebron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers, people have been eager to see what kind of impact Lonzo and Lebron could have playing together.
Lonzo Ball noticeably bulked up in the offseason but unfortunately, that was the extent of his offseason progression; a few extra pounds.
Ball, as we all know, had a PRP injection and later underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason.
Ball only played two games in the preseason and was expected to come off the bench in the season opener.
In the season-opening loss to the Blazers, Ball only tallied seven points on 1-for-4 shooting from deep. That’s an OK stat line for a guy coming off of injury. He did manage to hit both of his free throws, surprisingly, bringing his season average to 100 percent from the free throw line.
His stat line, though, isn’t what is concerning me.
Part of my concern with Lonzo Ball this season is that because of Lonzo’s injury and not being able to fully train properly in the offseason, worry sets in that Lonzo would come into the season as basically the same player he was last year, having made no significant improvements.
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My worries became heightened when the Lakers signed Rajon Rondo to a 1-year deal.
I knew what kind of player Rondo was when he first came onto the Lakers. With his ability to pass being on par with that of Lonzo Ball, his knowledge of the game and his outspoken nature on the court yelling and barking out directions, Lonzo was going to have to step up his game exponentially.
All of Rondo’s game transferred into the regular season. Rondo had a double-double in the loss to the Blazers, contributing 13 points and 11 assists.
His passing, along with his demeanor as a floor general, is really starting to make me like him even more.
Even in Lonzo’s 19 minutes on the floor, all I saw from him was just more of the same. Lonzo to me still looks non-aggressive and is still a streaky shooter from the outside.
There is still time for him to turn it around, but Lonzo Ball has played in the preseason and in this first game of the regular season exactly as I feared he would.
I would like to think that as he gets healthy and gets more minutes out on the floor, he would be more comfortable and thus be more active within the game.
I just feel that in his limited time early in the season, he needs to make the best of every opportunity he gets to step out on the floor.
Magic Johnson and the coaching staff are all about winning, and right now it is looking more and more likely that the starting point guard job is Rondo’s to lose.
If Ball doesn’t make the most of every opportunity, then he could find himself as the backup point guard all season long.
That would look awfully bad for the former No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, going from the face of the franchise to fighting for minutes behind a 32-year-old Rondo.
I’m just having a hard time figuring out where Lonzo Ball fits with this Lakers roster especially if he doesn’t break out and show why he deserves to be on the floor.
One thing is for certain, If this keeps up then I believe it won’t be long before we start to see the return of Lavar Ball.
Can’t wait for that.