Los Angeles Lakers: 5 players with the most to prove in 2017-18
1. Lonzo Ball, PG
Please tell me you saw this one coming.
In Los Angeles, all eyes are on Ball. The prodigal son has arrived in Laker Land, and the front office is building the rookie up to be the next great point guard for this team. More specifically, the UCLA product is being seen as “the new face of the Lakers,” via ESPN’s JA Adande.
It's showtime. Magic Johnson welcomes the man he calls "the new face of the Lakers" Lonzo Ball pic.twitter.com/ghacc34Ri2
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) June 23, 2017
His Summer League performance only added fuel to the fire. His debut was rough, but he quickly turned things around. By the time it was all said and done, Ball had led the Lakers to the championship and earned MVP honors along the way. He showed off all of the confidence, killer instincts and elite passing that got him drafted No. 2 overall.
The only lingering question is whether or not Ball can carry that play over into the regular season? If he can, this Lakers team could be a sneaky contender for a playoff spot. If it takes him some time to get acclimated like most rookies, the Lakers may be looking at another bottom-five finish.
Right now, this franchise’s hopes essentially hinge on Ball’s development. Can he show enough as a facilitator and playmaker to convince superstars like George and James to join him in Los Angeles? That’s going to be the story line throughout the regular season, whether we like it or not.
Next: Lakers' wildly ambitious FA targets in next 3 years
Based on what I’ve seen, I believe Ball can deliver. He’s only 19 and is already playing like he’s been there and done that. The regular season will be an entirely different beast, but the early signs are promising. Unfortunately for him, it’s not me he needs to prove his worthiness to.