When the Los Angeles Lakers selected point guard Lonzo Ball number two overall out of UCLA, high expectations followed immediately. For example, at the introductory press conference; Magic Johnson stated that Ball’s jersey would be retired alongside his. Furthermore, Johnson said he expected all of his old records to be broken by Ball someday.
Indeed, that’s a bit of pressure to heap on a draft pick before he’s ever stepped on an NBA court.
Now, Ball is in New Orleans as part of a young core that will give him a fresh start. He tells Shams Charania of The Athletic NBA that he owns up to falling short of expectations in Los Angeles.
Lonzo Ball on @TheAthleticNBA: "No. 2 pick, you're supposed to do a job. You're supposed to turn the franchise around. I don't think I did it to the best of my abilities."
Ball on his Lakers seasons, new opportunity and jump shot, LaMelo, more: https://t.co/9ChlID3Hzk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 11, 2019
Honestly, Ball sounds like a mature player in his quote. It’s not easy to accept responsibility when you come up short and things don’t work out. Remember, his father is Lavar Ball; and I don’t think the eldest Ball would say something like this. You be the judge.
“Nah, nah, that wasn’t too much pressure,” Ball told The Athletic. “That’s what I was supposed to do. No. 2 pick, you’re supposed to do a job — you’re supposed to turn the franchise around. And I don’t think I did it to the best of my abilities. I didn’t live up to that standard. Now I’m here and I’m blessed to be here.”
Finally, this is the best thing Ball could have done. He played two seasons in the spectacle that is Lakers’ basketball and people didn’t come away satisfied with the results. Realizing that it didn’t work out – owning it – and talking about better days ahead show that the kid is mature and ready for a fresh start.
Notably, this could be what propels Ball towards realizing some of his potential; possibly on his way to becoming a future All-Star player. Certainly, heads will be turned if anyone in league circles reads this quote. Lonzo seems like an easy enough kid to like, because it would have been easy to heap the blame elsewhere when asked about his time in Los Angeles.
