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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons why trading Lonzo Ball was the right move

By Robert Marvi

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands for the National Anthem prior to the start of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2018 in Oakland, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 25: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands for the National Anthem prior to the start of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2018 in Oakland, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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1. He’s a little too “Hollywood”

It’s not exactly a bad thing for an athlete to branch out and explore other avenues. Whether it’s LeBron James being an entrepreneur, Kobe Bryant getting his start as a filmmaker/screenwriter or Colin Kaepernick becoming a social activist, athletes have every right to develop new skills and talents.

But at the same time, the main thing, i.e. their craft, must remain the main thing.

Lonzo Ball has had a lot on his plate outside of playing for the Lakers. In addition to his Big Baller Brand, he’s co-starred in a reality show entitled “Ball in the Family” and he’s tried his hand at being a rapper (so far he’s released one album).

The problem with this is all the issues previously mentioned, which could give the appearance to the naked eye that he’s not as committed to his basketball career as he should be.

When Phil Jackson became head coach of the Lakers in 1999, Shaquille O’Neal was in a similar situation. According to O’Neal, Jackson told him in their initial meeting to forget about making movies and rap albums and to focus only on basketball, and that if O’Neal did that, he would win the MVP award.

O’Neal did what Jackson asked him to, and the accusations of No. 34 not being committed to basketball instantly subsided.

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Being in New Orleans should be helpful to Ball, mostly because he won’t be around the distractions that a market like L.A. (or, for that matter, New York City) has. Now he can focus only on basketball, and if he really wants to become a great player, it will be that much easier for him to become one.

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