Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Bold predictions for season opener

2. Lonzo Ball puts up a triple-double in debut

When I first made this prediction, it didn’t feel overly bold considering what we’ve seen from Ball since he was drafted back in June. Then, I realized how historic of a feat this would be for a rookie in his NBA debut. Just how historic, you ask? Let me tell you.

Los Angeles Lakers

In league history, only one player has recorded a triple-double in their first game. That would be none other than Oscar Robertson, Hall-of-Famer and former superstar for the Cincinnati Royals/Milwaukee Bucks. In his first NBA appearance, he tallied 21 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds. If Ball were to manage a triple-double, he’d be joining some pretty elite company.

Here’s what makes it even more bold of a prediction: he’ll be squaring off against Beverley for much of the night. The 2017 All-Defensive First Team member will give the rookie everything he can handle.

I won’t predict Ball will score a ton of points — he’s still developing as a shooter and scorer. Definitely 10 or more points, though. The assists will obviously be there, as he’s the facilitator the Lakers have long been waiting for. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had more assists than points.

Despite Jordan’s best efforts to snag every board possible, Ball gets his hands on double-digit rebounds as well. It’s never an easy task for a point guard, but we saw during Summer League that he’s more than capable of corralling rebounds at a consistent clip. That finishes off the triple-double, cementing his performance among the greatest NBA debuts of all time.

The Lakers are expecting big things from Ball this season. What better way to repay their commitment to the passer extraordinaire than to start his career with a bang?