Lonzo Ball

Joey Ramirez

When Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka thinks of his team’s second-overall pick, some some big names flash across mind.

Lonzo Ball — the NCAA’s best passer and conductor of UCLA’s nation-best offense — reminds Pelinka of the way that Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and even Lakers president Magic Johnson used to elevate their teammates.

And the way Ball threads passes through those tight windows takes Pelinka to the gridiron, where he likens the 19-year-old to Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

“There’s something very, very special about his basketball abilities,” Pelinka said. “… I think the vision and abilities that Lonzo has just puts him in a class of being a transcendent talent.”

Sure, the Lakers, who ranked last in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season, debated the idea of drafting someone like Kansas’ Josh Jackson, according to head coach Luke Walton.

But the potential for Ball to become one of the game’s great playmakers was too much to balk on.

“We also want the ball moving,” Walton said. “We want to play an up-tempo game, and that’s what Ball’s a genius at.”

Indeed, Ball led the nation in assists last year with 7.6 per game. But his impact on Bruins basketball was much more than that.

In his one year at UCLA, Ball led his school from a 15-17 record the year before to a 31-5 mark this time around. The Bruins also led the country in both scoring (89.8) and field goal percentage (52.2).

“When he’s on the floor, all four guys that are out there with him become better instantly,” Walton said. “That’s a quality and a trait that not many people have. The great ones all have it, and we hope that by the way he plays everyone else on our team becomes better.”

The Lakers will get an early glimpse at how Ball looks among his teammates in two weeks at the Las Vegas Summer League.

There, he will team up with fellow No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram, whom he is anxious to run alongside.

“That was just his first year, and he did a lot,” Ball said of Ingram. “I feel like he’s going to be a superstar in this league. … Just me being a pass-first point guard; he can score pretty easily.

“He’s going to have to run the floor, (I) get the ball to him, and I’m pretty sure he can do the rest.”

At Summer League, Ball will also get to team up with the Lakers’ 27th-overall pick Kyle Kuzma, who joined Lonzo on the All-Pac-12 First Team this season.

Kuzma saw firsthand how Ball could dazzle with his own scoring, averaging 14.6 points while shooting 73.2 percent from inside the arc and 41.2 percent on triples — many of which came from beyond NBA range.

But, much like Pelinka and Walton, Ball’s foe-turned-friend was most impressed with the way Ball improved those around him.

“If I had a point guard like Lonzo, I probably would have been higher in the mock drafts,” Kuzma joked.

Though Washington’s Markelle Fultz was drafted first overall, Kuzma claimed that Ball was the top player in the Pac-12.

Pelinka is optimistic that he can become something much more in Walton’s offensive system of pushing the pace and keeping the ball constantly moving.

“I think Lonzo’s gonna be that player that can help define that for a team,” Pelinka said. “That’s the way he plays. It’s infectious. I think all of us know he has the ability to make other players around him better.”

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Lakers Find Their Leader In Lonzo Ball

With the second pick in the NBA Draft, the Lakers chose UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball. Plus, they added another young trio with Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant.

Members of the Lakers, media and the players themselves took to Twitter to give their reaction to a big night in shaping Los Angeles' roster.

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Reaction: Lakers Draft Lonzo Ball

Mike Trudell

L.A. happened to buck the lottery odds to end up with the No. 2 pick in a year in which a local kid was sitting there for the taking.

Just like in 2003, when LeBron James went to his hometown Cavs, or 2008, when Chicago had the No. 1 slot in native Derrick Rose’s class, a local kid will start for the team he dreamed of starring for.

The 19-year-old called it a "dream come true" to be able to stay in Los Angeles and work with arguably the greatest point guard ever, Lakers president Magic Johnson.

“It’s crazy,” Ball told ESPN after being drafted. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. Just to be able to learn from him every day should be amazing.”

Ball, the Chino Hills native who excelled in one season at UCLA, heard Adam Silver say his name on Thursday evening at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, putting into reality a vision that he’s repeatedly said his father, LaVar, spoke into existence.

And, by the way, the person running the Lakers in 2017 happens to be the one Ball and his family idolized back in the day.

Magic Johnson was even the one who delivered the pick to the Lakers at the draft lottery.

“My dad loved him and loved the way the Lakers played,” Ball said of Magic after his pre-draft workout in L.A. “I kind of patterned my game after that. Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play … he’s the best point guard to ever play, so I can learn a lot of things from him.”

A First Team All-America selection and Pac-12 Player of the Year at UCLA, Ball average 14.6 points on 55.1 percent shooting and 41.2 percent from three with a NCAA-best 7.6 assists and 6.0 boards, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.

With a pretty well-balanced skill set that includes finishing strong at the rim and hitting 3’s off the dribble or in spot up situations, Ball’s best trait is super obvious.

So much, in fact, that he infects his teammates with the itch to move the ball just like he does. That’s not a common trait even amongst elite NBA point guards or ball-dominant wings. It’s not one that can be taught, but it is one that coach/pass-happy former player Luke Walton loves more than most.

Of course, Ball is not without weaknesses.

“You can always work on everything,” he said. “But for me, probably just strength, get stronger and the mid-game pull-up stuff.”

Getting stronger will help him to fight through the constant ball screens that get set on NBA point guards by bigs, and help him improve lateral quickness and explosion to switch onto bigger wings when needed.

We should remember: Ball is only 19 years old, and doesn’t turn 20 until next October.

There’s plenty of time for improvement, which will start quite soon as he takes the floor wearing purple and gold at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (July 7-17).

But for tonight, at least, things are simple.

The Lakers think they found their point guard and leader into the future, and happened to grant a lifelong dream in the process.

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Lakers Draft Lonzo Ball with Second Overall Pick

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EL SEGUNDO – Comenzó la era Lonzo Ball en Los Ángeles.

Los Lakers escogieron el jueves al base de UCLA con la selección No. 2 del Draft del Draft 2017.

Ball promedió 14.6 puntos, 7.6 asistencias y 6.0 rebotes en 35.1 minutos por noche en su única temporada en el baloncesto colegial, número que no se veían en la NCAA desde Jason Kidd (Cal) en 1992-93.

“Es un sueño hecho realidad”, confesó en el podio tras escuchar su nombre por parte del comisionado Adam Silver.

El base además disparó un excelente 41.2 por ciento en triples en 5.4 intentos por noche, sustentando un brillante 55.1 por ciento en tiros de cancha.

“Nos encanta la manera que Zo juega baloncesto”, reconoció Luke Walton.

A sus 19 años, Ball se convierte en la tercera selección No. 2 consecutiva de los Lakers, tras Brandon Ingram en 2016 y D’Angelo Russell en 2016.

“Hubo charlas de que necesitábamos ayuda defensivamente”, explicó el entrenador de los Lakers. “Obviamente amamos a Josh Jackson y es una bestia en el costado defensivo, y tuvimos esos debates. También queríamos movimiento de balón, jugar un juego de alto ritmo, y Ball es un genio en eso. Hubo muchos debates, queríamos conocer a estos jóvenes, y quiénes son, lo que los motiva, y los que los lleva a ser grandes. Una vez que hicimos todas las pruebas, y los entrevistamos y los sentamos, los debates comenzaron, y Zo fue el tipo que decidimos que sería lo mejor para nosotros”.

Walton alabó los dotes de liderazgo del nuevo conductor del equipo.

“Creo que como líder, los muchachos van a gravitar hacia alguien que quiere hacerlos mejores”, opinó. “Para mí, él es el tipo de jugador que cuando está en la cancha, los otros cuatro jugadores que están con él se hacen mejores instantáneamente. Esa es una cualidad y una virtud que no mucha gente tiene y que los grandes la tienen. Esperamos que por la manera que él juega, todos en nuestro equipo mejoren”.

En cuantos a la afición, Walton no tiene dudas de que el idilio existe desde el primer día.

“Creo que lo van a amar”, aseguró. “Estuve caminando por el centro (de Los Ángeles) y la gente estaba loca por él antes de que llegara el Draft. Obviamente estar en UCLA y habiendo hecho lo que hizo ahí, y siendo de Chino Hills, como un chico local uno imaginaría que los fans lo apoyarán”.

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Lakers seleccionan al base Lonzo Ball

One of the most exciting prospects in this year’s draft, Lonzo Ball caught the nation’s attention by leading UCLA’s high-powered offense with the most assists in the country.

Lakers.com’s Joey Ramirez caught up with Bruins beat writer Clay Fowler of the Los Angeles Daily News to chat about what Ball may become at the next level.

Plus, Fowler dished on Ball’s first round-projected teammates, Ike Anigbogu and T.J. Leaf, as well as some high-profile foes, De’Aaron Fox and Markelle Fultz.

You can also subscribe to the Popcorn Machine via iTunes.

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Popcorn Machine: Lonzo Ball, UCLA and More With Clay Fowler

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Photo Gallery: Lonzo Ball Draft Workout (6/7/17)

After all, pre-NBA Draft workouts don’t typically have the same level of media interest or attendance as end-of-season Kobe Bryant press availabilities after the Lakers last won the title in 2009 and 2010.

But with UCLA freshman and Chino Hills native Lonzo Ball in on Wednesday morning at the team’s practice facility, this one did.

Holders of the second overall pick in the Draft, after bucking 53.1 percent odds that they’d lose the pick altogether to Philadelphia, L.A. could have the chance to select Ball … should the Boston Celtics not do it first, that is.

Of course, L.A. could select somebody else, or even trade the pick. That’s part of the reason to get to know Ball and the rest of the prospects better, a process that includes on-court workouts, and on occasion, some off-court activity as well.

On Tuesday night, Ball went to dinner with Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson, GM Rob Pelinka and coach Luke Walton.

“They said they want me to come in, if I get picked, and be a leader,” relayed Ball. “Play with a lot of pace. The stuff they were saying was very positive, and it kind of fits my game.”

They just wanted to know what type of person I am. I never met them, they never met me, and it was the first time. It was a good sit down dinner. I had a lot of fun.”

Ball thinks he’d have more fun if he were to be selected by the Lakers. That’s no secret.

&lt;p“Of course,” he said. “I want to stay home.”

In fact, he’s been thinking about it since the days Magic ran the show.

“My dad loved him and loved the way the Lakers played,” Ball continued. “I kind of patterned my game after that. Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play …  he’s the best point guard to ever play, so I can learn a lot of things from him.”

While Ball added that he loves how Walton coaches and was impressed with Pelinka after the Tuesday dinner, Wednesday involved less talking.

“The drills get you tired and you’ve just got to stay focused,” he relayed. “It was a lot of shooting, a lot of pivots, a lot of pull-ups.”

The Lakers have plenty of tape of Ball playing at UCLA to refer to. They were able to watch, often in person, him average 14.6 points on 55.1 percent shooting and 41.2 percent from three with a nation-best 7.6 assists plus 6.0 boards, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. A consensus First Team All-America selection and Pac-12 Player of the Year, he set a UCLA record by totaling 274 assists.

His team-first attitude seems to vibe with what Walton’s been preaching.

“Everything you do, you’ve got to do it for the team,” said Ball. “Bring a winning atmosphere in here — I think I can do that.”

Since Ball grew up a Lakers fan, he wasn’t necessarily in awe of the banners and trophies at the facility, as much as happy to have the opportunity. Nerves weren’t an issue, either.

“I don’t get nervous when I play basketball,” he said.

Ball does, however, realize he has a lot of room to grow.

“You can always work on everything,” he offered. “But for me, probably just strength, get stronger and the mid-game pull-up stuff.”

Towards that end, Ball has shown that he excels at either shooting threes or getting all the way to the rim. He knows he’ll have to have an answer for teams that try to take both away.

He said he thinks he’ll be “fine” defensively in the NBA, that he’ll be able to use his 6-foot-6 frame to guard “one through three.”

After the workout and media session concluded, Ball headed to lunch with Lakers ownership, including Governor Jeanie Buss, South Bay Lakers President/CEO Joey Buss and Lakers Director of Scouting/Assistant GM Jesse Buss.

Whether or not Ball sets foot back in the building depends when NBA commissioner Adam Silver says his name on June 22.

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Lonzo Ball's Lakers Workout

One of the most heralded players in this year’s draft, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball got to show off his talents in person, as he worked out at the Lakers’ practice facility on Wednesday.

President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Luke Walton were among the brass that oversaw the 6-foot-6 point guard’s individual session.

Afterward, Ball spoke to the media about a variety of topics, including his skill set, mentality and relationship with the Lakers.

Below is a full transcription from El Segundo:

Q: On his workout with the Lakers:
Ball: I thought it was a lot of fun. It got me tired. I’m gonna sleep for the rest of the day.

Q: On if he was nervous about the workout:
Ball: No, I don’t get nervous when I play basketball.

Q: On if he was surprised by any of the drills:
Ball: No, the drills get you tired and you’ve just got to stay focused.

Q: On what he felt he was best at in the workout:
Ball: I try not to pick just one thing out of my game. I just try to get the whole thing done, and I’m glad I came in. It was a lot of fun.

Q: On how much shooting took place:
Ball: It was a lot of shooting, a lot of pivots, a lot of pull-ups — typical shooting drills.

Q: On meeting with Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Luke Walton the day before:
Ball: It was a good dinner. A lot of fun meeting Magic and the coaches for the first time. I’m glad I came.

Q: On what feedback he received after his workout:
Ball: Just positive vibes. Like I said, I had a lot of fun. It was great meeting everybody here and very welcoming.

Q: On if he wants to play for the Lakers:
Ball: Of course. I want to stay home.

Q: On if he grew up watching Magic Johnson:
Ball: Yeah, my dad loved him and loved the way the Lakers played. I kind of patterned my game after that.

Q: On what he thinks he can bring to the Lakers:
Ball: They have a lot of good players. I just think they need a leader, a point guard. I feel like I can bring that to the team.

Q: On what leadership qualities he has:
Ball: Just bringing in a winning attitude. Everybody banding together and getting this done together.

Q: On if the Lakers gave him any assurance about them drafting him:
Ball: Pops is worrying about that. It was kinda me meeting them, them meeting me. Like I said, it was a fun atmosphere and I’m glad I got to do it.

Q: On what made the workout so fun:
Ball: Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play, and I love the way that Coach Walton coaches, and Rob’s a good dude, too. So meeting all of them was a blessing.

Q: On how he sees his skill set meshing with the Lakers’ current roster:
Ball: Like I said, they’re young, I’m young. I see they like to run, I love to run. So I think we can complement each other very well.

Q: On those who think that his father, LaVar, could be a distraction if he is drafted to the Lakers:
Ball: They said that about me in high school and they said that about me in college. I don’t think it will affect me.

Q: On what he thought he did best at in the workout:
Ball: Like I said, I can’t pick one thing out. It gets you tired. It’s a lot of fun. Just being able to play basketball at the Lakers’ facility is a blessing.

Q: On the feedback he received after the workout:
Ball: Like I said, positive feedback. A lot of tips, a lot of helpful hints. I’m just grateful for it.

Q: On who was watching the workout:
Ball: Coaching staff, Magic Johnson.

Q: On if he was awed by being in the Lakers’ practice facility:
Ball: No, I’m from here so I know about all the championships, all the trophies. I’m not really in awe. I’m just grateful to be in here.

Q: On if he believes that his father’s outspokenness can create misperceptions about himself:
Ball: Everybody has an opinion. I know who I am. People who know me know who I am. That’s all that matters.

Q: On his comfortability in the pick-and-roll, considering it wasn’t ran much at UCLA:
Ball: I feel great in pick-and-roll. … I can read a defense pretty well, so I won’t have any problems with it.

Q: On leadership:
Ball: I think a lot of it is natural. I think you’re either born a leader or you’re not.

Q: On advice given to him by Johnson:
Ball: A lot of stuff I can do on the court, how to help guys off the court. And he’s the best point guard to ever play, so I can learn a lot of things from him.

Q: On how he modeled his game after Johnson:
Ball: He’s a big point guard, I’m a big point guard. He likes to push it, I like to push it. He likes to pass, I like to pass.

Q: On if he went to a lot of Lakers games growing up:
Ball: I never went to the games. My dad didn’t really like the seats because I guess they’re too small for him. I usually just watched in the living room with him.

Q: On if he thinks that the Lakers need him:
Ball: I feel like I can come to any team and help.

Q: On the amount of media attention he gets:
Ball: I’m kind of used to it by now.

Q: On if he plans to work out for any other teams.
Ball: I leave that up to my agent. Whatever he tells me to do, I do.

Q: On when he started receiving a huge amount of media attention:
Ball: Probably the first game at UCLA. After that it’s kind of been like this every time.

Q: On if the Lakers don’t draft him:
Ball: Like I said, I’ll go to any team and just do what I do and play basketball.

Q: On if he wants to change the Lakers’ culture, like he did at UCLA:
Ball: Everything you do, you’ve got to do it for the team. Bring a winning atmosphere in here — I think I can do that.

Q: On why the Lakers should draft him:
Ball: Like I said, they need a leader. They need a point guard. I feel like I can fill that hole.

Q: On how much an individual workout can show to the Lakers:
Ball: I don’t know how to answer that. I guess it kind of matters, it kind of doesn’t. It just depends on who you ask. I’m just grateful for being here around the people, showing what I can do. [I’ll] just let the chips fall where they may.

Q: On what he wanted to get out of the workout:
Ball: The workout was just me coming in here doing what I love to do, with people helping me. It was my first workout, and I’m proud I got to come in here.

On if he was nervous considering it was the Lakers:
Ball: I don’t get nervous when I play basketball.

Q: On if off-court circumstances can make him a target on the court to opponents:
Ball: It definitely doesn’t help, definitely makes it a little bit harder. But any good player is going to have attention on them at all times and I’m pretty used to it by now.

Q: On his Draft Day plans:
Ball: I’ll be at the Draft with a lot of my family. I’m looking forward to having a good time.

Q: On what Johnson, Pelinka and Walton conveyed to Ball at their Tuesday evening dinner:
Ball: They said they want me to come in, if I get picked, and be a leader. Play with a lot of pace. The stuff they were saying was very positive, and it kind of fits my game.

Q: More on that conversation:
Ball: They just wanted to know what type of person I am. I never met them, they never met me, and it was the first time. It was a good sit down dinner. I had a lot of fun.

Q: On what kind of person he is:
Ball: Calm, mellow, off the court, on the court. I just want to win.

Q: On if they asked about his dad:
Ball: They said they love him. That’s about it.

Q: On his impressions of the Lakers’ brass:
Ball: They seemed like great guys. I’m grateful I got to meet them. It was a lot of fun sitting down with them and talking. I didn’t look at them as coaches, I looked at them as friends, so, it was a lot of fun.

Q: On finding his love for basketball:
Ball: Since I started playing when I was 6. There was something about having the ball in my hand. Everything kind of stops. Ever since then, I’ve been playing with passion.

Q: On developing court vision:
Ball: My dad asked me what position I wanted to play. I said point guard. He was like, ‘All right, if you’re gonna play point guard, you gotta get the ball up,' and ever since then I’ve just been passing.

Q: On if he’s talked to any of the Lakers young players:
Ball: No, I have not.

Q: On meeting Magic:
Ball: It was a blessing. Best point guard to ever play. Me being a point guard, I looked up to him my whole life. To finally get a chance to meet him, it’s just a blessing.

Q: On what he learned about the NBA today:
Ball: You definitely gotta be in shape. It’s a lot of stamina stuff. As long as you stay focused and do everything with pace, you should be all right.

Q: On his defense:
Ball: I think I’ll be fine defensively in the league. I think I can guard one through three.

Q: On what areas of his game he should work the most on:
Ball: You can always work on everything. But for me, probably just strength, get stronger and the mid-game pull-up stuff.

Q: On his shot mechanics:
Ball: As long as it works, I’m going to keep using it.

Q: On if he’s the best player in the Draft:
Ball: I think I am.