There’s a lot of excitement around Lonzo Ball’s rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s make a few bold predictions for what the top pick will accomplish in 2017-18.
The buzz around the Los Angeles Lakers and rookie sensation Lonzo Ball is through the roof right now. It started on draft day, and only got louder during the 2017 NBA Summer League. Chances are the trend will continue well into the 2017-18 NBA regular season.
Based on what we saw during Summer League, the sky is the limit for the former UCLA star. He’s obviously got some ridiculous passing skills, earning him Jason Kidd comparisons along the way. Although we’ve got some ground to cover before crowning him the next Kidd, all signs are pointing in a very positive direction.
So what can we expect from Ball during his rookie campaign? No one knows for sure, but we can certainly speculate as we work our way through the offseason.
That’s why we’re here today — to look at a few bold predictions for Ball’s rookie season. The Lakers will be depending on him to be the star of the show, which could offer him plenty of opportunities to the light the NBA on fire.
Related Story: 3 worst Lakers contracts heading into 2017-18
With that in mind, let’s take a look at my three bold predictions for the new face of the Lakers. Ball has the talent to help flip this franchise’s fortunes, and it all starts during his first year in the NBA. If any of these predictions come true, the foundation for his legacy will be rock solid after only one year.
Lonzo Ball guides Lakers to first playoff appearance since 2013
Based on some of Magic Johnson‘s comments, the Lakers seem to think that Ball as the franchise’s savior. While the plan to add two superstars next offseason may contradict that assertion, it’s an interesting viewpoint nonetheless.
However, if it is truly the case, it’s going to be difficult determining how far the Lakers can go this season. While I don’t think anything could put there anywhere near “contender” status, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Ball to lead this team to the playoffs for the first time in four years.
More from Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
- A surprise LeBron ranking should raise alarm bells for the Lakers
- Surprising Austin Reaves contract detail confirms Lakers got him for a steal
- Instant Grades for the Lakers’ unprecedented Anthony Davis extension
- Report: Lakers have big plans for recent top-10 pick amid roster shakeup
With that in mind, I’m predicting the rookie will do exactly that in 2017-18.
Realistically, this team has undergone significant improvement this offseason. The additions of Ball, Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were all terrific, even if it meant parting with D’Angelo Russell in the process. With Brandon Ingram likely to take a step forward in his development as well, things are looking up for the Lakers.
It’s going to come down to the wire. The Western Conference is looking extremely tough this year with all of the players who came over from the East. However, with some luck and assistance from Ball, the Lakers will secure the eighth seed in the final few games.
Magic came in with a plan, and its impact will show through only one season.
Lonzo Ball leads NBA in assists per game
Speaking of assistance from Ball, he’s already looking like an elite passer. There’s a reason he led all of college basketball in assists per game during his freshman year at UCLA. We might as well predict that he’ll do the same in his first NBA season, considering how well he played during Summer League.
Here’s a taste of what we can expect from Ball in 2017-18:
BALL SZN pic.twitter.com/KV1nFmvU7p
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) July 8, 2017
To have pulled it off a season ago, Ball would have needed to amass more than the 11.2 assists per game that James Harden managed. Seeing as he averaged 9.3 per game in Las Vegas, I could easily see Ball coming out on top this season. You have to consider that Summer League games are shorter, and the rookie was still figuring things out.
While the competition during the regular season will be much greater, Ball is only going to improve as the season goes along. He already improved leaps and bounds between the first Summer League game and the last, and I can assure you it had nothing to do with the shoes.
As the season progresses, he’ll start to learn better and better how to utilize his otherworldly passing skills. He’ll cut down on turnovers, and find more efficient ways to feed his teammates the rock. Especially if Kyle Kuzma works his way into the rotation, I could see the two of them connecting early and often when on the court together.
Ball knows how to take advantage of the talent around him. With the culture of this franchise changing and winning becoming a bigger priority, I’m guessing they’ll improve considerably on their middle-of-the-road offense from a season ago.
Lonzo Ball wins 2017-18 Rookie of the Year
If you’re leading the league in assists as a rookie, chances are you’re going to be line for some serious hardware. While the MVP award is nowhere near an option, the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award seems well within reach for Ball.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
What’s helping his cause is the fact that he could have arguably the largest role of any rookie. Most of the top picks are expected to be starters or role players, whereas Ball looks to be the go-to guy in Los Angeles. There will be fierce competition for the honor, but the former Bruin seems to have as good of a shot as any.
So let’s just go ahead and give it to him.
As if being the assist leader isn’t enough, Ball is sure to make an impact in other areas as well. We saw during Summer League that he can go off in the scoring department, especially when his teammates aren’t producing offensively. He showed a knack for playing the passing lanes, and can even dominate the boards when needed.
What I truly believe gives him the edge, though, is that killer instinct. We saw it during his 36-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. The game got tough, and Ball took his game to a new level. When the Lakers needed him to be a star, he shined brighter than any player on the court. That’s what’s going to win him the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award.
Next: 3 Lakers destined for monster 2017-18 seasons
You may not like Ball, or maybe you don’t like his father. No matter what your beef may be with the kid, it’s undeniable that he’s a rising star in the basketball world. It’s going to be a huge rookie season for him, especially if even one of these predictions comes true.