Los Angeles Lakers: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season

7. Lonzo Ball becomes youngest player in NBA history to record triple-double

Lonzo Ball entered the league with an incredible amount of fanfare, riding the wave of a successful season at UCLA and the most outspoken father in sports. He didn’t disappoint either, dropping 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a win over the Phoenix Suns in the second game of the season.

The moment where Ball truly began to move from impressive to unique was a couple of weeks later against the Milwaukee Bucks. At 20 years, 15 days old he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, beating LeBron James by four days.

In total Ball put together a robust stat line across the board, finishing with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for the triple double. He also pitched in three steals and three blocks for good measure. They weren’t empty calories either, as he was a team-leading +10 on a night the Lakers lost by eight.

In total, Lonzo Ball would drop just one other triple-double in his rookie season, although he frequently came close. Markelle Fultz (19 years, 317 days) would also break his record as the youngest NBA player with a triple-double in April.

For the season, Balls averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. In NBA history, the only rookies to hit those marks are Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Ben Simmons. While Ball struggled through a season at times marred by injury, he was a valuable and exciting piece for the Lakers.