The Los Angeles Lakers selected Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, hoping that he will be the face of the franchise moving forward. Ball was widely viewed as a can’t-miss prospect, born mostly through his stellar court vision and passing ability.
It’s no secret that Ball’s playing style will make him a great teammate in the NBA as players will enjoy getting passes from him to make their jobs easier. One such player is already excited about the prospect of catching lobs from the UCLA alum.
Here’s Larry Nance, Jr. appearing on the Hoopshype podcast with Alex Kennedy:
“Well I’m excited for it. Obviously like you said, he’s a pass-first guy. He’s got great court vision and he’s a facilitator. Obviously that benefits the guys that are on the court with him, my job specifically [to] run the court, be athletic. That’s great for me because my backdoor slips, he’s going to have the ball in the air for me. If he was throwing lobs to TJ Leaf last year…I can’t wait to see what he does for me.”
“I think he’s going to be really good. Obviously, so does our staff. You don’t take a kid number two if you’re uncertain. Obviously, they’re very confident in him. I didn’t get to see too much during the season…but from everything I’ve seen, he’s got a great basketball IQ and I’m really looking forward to playing with him.”
“I was actually at his introductory press conference yesterday and he seems like a really good kid and eager to get to work, so I love that.”
It’s already brewing a lot of excitement among Lakers fans to imagine Ball and Nance running the fast break. It should be a fun complement to a team that likely will not win much but should be plenty entertaining.
Nance also offered his thoughts on Lonzo’s father LaVar who has made a name for himself as the outspoken supporter of his sons and the creator of the Big Baller Brand. While some have expressed concerns over his effects on locker room chemistry, Nance did not seem phased:
“To me, it’s not going to be that big of an issue. My relationship has to be with Lonzo. I’ve got to have a really good relationship with Lonzo. His dad just seems his son’s number one fan. I mean, look here, there’s nobody that’s hoping he does better than me because that makes me look good, too. I think we’re all going to be on the same side in just hoping the best for Lonzo.”
LaVar Ball will likely take a step back now that his son is a Laker. But it’s still good to hear that at least one current player doesn’t see him making any problems in regards to the team.
