Los Angeles Lakers: 5 goals for Lonzo Ball’s rookie season
By Evan Massey
2. 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year
As is the case for every rookie heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, winning the Rookie of the Year Award is a major goal. Lonzo Ball is viewed as one of the top candidates to win the award, although he has plenty of competition to go up against.
Players like Markelle Fultz, Josh Jackson, De’Aaron Fox and Jayson Tatum will all push for the award. There are also players that were taken later on in the draft that will compete for the award as well. That being said, Ball may be in the best position to win the award when everything is said and done.
Very few rookies are asked to do what the Lakers will be asking from their new point guard this season, and after watching him win Summer League MVP honors behind 16.3 points, 9.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, the upcoming season looks very promising for the No. 2 overall pick.
Expect to see Ball end up being a top-three candidate for the award when everything is said and done. He may not end up winning it, but it is a reasonable goal to expect him to reach.