At this point, Lonzo Ball is just an average NBA player and not close to being the NBA All-Star type player the Los Angeles Lakers expected
Let’s face it, Lonzo Ball is nothing special. Last year, Ball averaged a solid 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game during his rookie season. This year, Ball is averaging 8.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game for the 8-6 Los Angeles Lakers.
So far Ball has looked nothing like a No. 2 pick since he were drafted by the Lakers. When we think of a top 3 pick, we think of a franchise changing player like Dwyane Wade or Allen Iverson. I know Magic Johnson fell in love with Ball’s game and talked about handing over the keys to him like he was Kobe Bryant or the next Jason Kidd, but he is not either one them. At this point, Ball is not close to being a reserve All-Star player.
At this time, Ball is not even a good player. He is average, at best. He has shot more air balls than any NBA player I can name. His teammate Kyle Kuzma, who was drafted 25 picks behind him, is averaging 17.6 points a game after averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds last year as a rookie.
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I will give Lavar Ball credit for selling Lonzo like he would be the next Magic Johnson. The media covered Lonzo Ball summer league games like he were the next LeBron James or Shaquille O’Neal type player.
At some point Magic and the media must admit that they were wrong about Ball. And before anyone can criticize me, I know it is early. I know that Kyle Lowry averaged under 10 points and five assists in his first five seasons in the NBA, but he was not the No. 2 pick in the draft. Memphis did not believe he would become a franchise player when they drafted him with their 24th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.
A No. 2 pick should at least show signs of being a future All-Star starter. Right now, Ball is several seasons away from even being in the conversation. To be honest, I would not think about picking Ball to be a reserve on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
He is not even close to being in the conversation of being an All-Star reserve in the East; let alone the Western Conference.
I am not going to call Lonzo Ball a bad draft pick, but right now he is not playing like a second overall pick in the NBA Draft. He is playing like a late first round pick.