Hoops Habit
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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 takeaways from 2017 NBA Summer League

By Josh Cornelissen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws a no-look pass against the Dallas Mavericks during a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 108-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws a no-look pass against the Dallas Mavericks during a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 108-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Lonzo Ball is fun on the court

The second overall pick in this year’s draft, Lonzo Ball was a polarizing prospect. No one could question his incredibly gifted passing, but would his “infectious” passing instill a new culture in Los Angeles? It worked at UCLA, but professional players may not be so easy to win over.

A week of games in and the answer seems to be, at least for players at Summer League, that Lonzo’s way is the way to go. Throughout the tournament, Los Angeles paced the competition in total assists, with four players tossing at least three. Lonzo Ball came just shy of averaging 10 assists per game, and notched a pair of triple doubles – more on that later.

Lonzo Ball not only led Summer League in assists this year, but he leads all players in Las Vegas history. His 9.3 assists per game are significantly more than any player has put up, ever, with 8.2 assists per game being the previous record. What Ball did was literally unprecedented.

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Knowing that your point guard is going to hit you if you are open motivates other players to be constantly moving without the ball, expecting the pass and preparing themselves to keep moving until he finds them. Both Kuzma and Vander Blue sprinted in transition nearly every possession hoping to be rewarded with an easy shot at the end.

Ball has a complete repertoire of passes, from drive-and-kicks to cross-court bounce passes to everything in between. He can dime up a teammate running down the court in transition, dropping the ball in the right spot to ensure they have an open layup.

There is much more to Lonzo Ball, but it is clear that his biggest strength is one that will help this entire roster improve. Every pass he throws keeps his teammates engaged, excited and moving toward being ready to score the ball no matter who touches it last. That’s the sort of teamwork Lonzo Ball inspires in teammates and fans alike.

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