Los Angeles Lakers: Grading the 2017 NBA Draft class after rookie year

No. 2 overall pick: Lonzo Ball

For the Lakers, it all starts with Lonzo Ball, the new face of the franchise — at least, for now.

The rookie sensation was built up to be a superstar in the making after Magic Johnson made him the No. 2 overall pick. Although I wouldn’t say he disappointed as a rookie, I’m not entirely sure he lived up to the overwhelming hype either. Then again, is it even possible to turn the rubbish that spews out of LaVar Ball’s mouth into reality?

Regardless, it was an outstanding year for Lonzo, who had unbearable pressure strapped to his shoulders from Day 1. His scoring wasn’t quite there at 10.2 points per game and the shooting (.360/.305/.451 splits) was off, though it got better as the year progressed. The playmaking was as advertised, with his outstanding passing and feel for the game on display nightly with 7.2 assists per game. His defensive dominance was a pleasant surprise.

Still, there’s one thing that really got me about Ball’s rookie campaign: the 30 missed games. It seemed he was always battling some injury, forcing him to sit out more than a third of the season. Now I know that the Lakers were often being cautious, but it’s concerning nonetheless when a 20-year-old is missing that much time due to injury.

That’s largely why Ball gets a “B+” from me, along with the other aforementioned concerns. The Lakers were better with him in the lineup, but he wasn’t in the lineup enough. Hopefully he can stay on the court a bit more in 2018-19, allowing us to see the full extent of the havoc his superior talents can wreak.

Next: Power ranking all 16 teams in the 2018 NBA Playoffs

Grade: B+