3. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is not enjoying as hot of a start as Montrezl Harrell or Alex Caruso. Harrell is legitimately playing like one of the 10 best players in the league while Caruso is one of the best defensive players in the entire league.
Ball, though, is finally on a team and a system that seems to appreciate his skillset and has put him in a position to succeed. Combine that with his natural progression as a pro and his shot development and we are seeing a really solid season out of Lonzo Ball.
His counting stats might not seem all that impressive. Ball is averaging 12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. His shooting stroke has improved exponentially since being a Laker as he is shooting 44.7% from three and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
The Bulls have played really well to start the season and Ball is a big reason why. While Ball is the fourth scoring option behind Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, he fits this team so well as the conductor. He is a point guard that can make his teammates better but also does not demand the ball to orchestrate the offense.
His on/off numbers tell the entire story. This Bulls’ net rating this season when Ball is on the court is 11 points higher than when he is off the court. Ball’s plus/minus this season is +93, giving him the 10th highest plus/minus in the entire league this season.
His impact on the Chicago Bulls is undeniable.