New Orleans Pelicans: Can Lonzo Ball become an All-Star?

New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball has shown vast improvement this season but is he on track to become an All-Star or an above-average role player?

Lonzo Ball came into the league with as much hype as any prospect in recent memory (other than maybe teammate Zion Williamson). Now that he’s playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, the buzz has subsided by quite a bit.

Ball was in a pretty unique situation a few years ago, seeing as he wasn’t projected to be the top pick or a home-run prospect. In fact, most of the buzz surrounding him stemmed from his father’s braggadocious nature. Lavar Ball, his outspoken father, and creator of the Big Baller Brand claimed he would be better than Michael Jordan.

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On the other side of the spectrum, media members were calling Lonzo Ball a bust less than half-way through his first season. As Ball’s third season in the league is coming to a close, it’s pretty clear that he won’t be either the next GOAT or a bust. So what can we make of his young career and promising future?

Although Ball probably won’t be an MVP candidate during his career, he has shown flashes of All-Star and All-NBA potential. Some of his skills are already at that level. His most advanced skill is his court vision, and it’s a great skill to have since it’s basically unteachable.

The ball movement on the New Orleans Pelicans is incredible to watch. They always make the extra pass, which is why their assist percentage is eighth in the league. All of that starts with Lonzo Ball and his unparalleled court vision and unselfishness.

Another skill Ball already possesses that’s at an All-Star level is his defense. He can guard ones, twos, and threes, and his team defense and instincts on the court are incredible. Among all qualified guards, he’s one of only five to be top 15 in steals and top 25 in blocks.

The final trait that’s already at an All-Star level for Ball is his 3-point shooting. This might come as a surprise to some because of how scrutinized his shot was for the first two years of his career, but he has completely reworked it in season three. He’s knocking down the 3-ball at a 36 percent clip on over six attempts per game.

Of the six guards who made the Western Conference All-Star teams, only two are shooting it at a better clip. Two of Lonzo Ball’s biggest knocks coming into the league were his defense and shooting, so it’s a good sign that they’ve become some of his biggest strengths.

Even though Lonzo Ball’s playmaking is advanced, he needs to make some serious improvements to reach an All-Star level. The first glaring hole is his ability to finish at the rim. He’s shooting less than 45 percent from inside the arc while taking less than five shots per game.

Ball has also blown some easy layups at the rim and is prone to passing up a good look to try and get teammates involved. Part of the reason he may be reluctant to drive is his woeful free-throw percentage. Shooting 58 percent from the line, he’s nearly 20 percent below league average.

An additional hole in Ball’s game is his handle. He’s such a weapon in transition because of his burst and court vision, but he can get sloppy with his handle and turn the ball over. He’s averaging three turnovers a game, which is pretty high for his usage rate.

If Lonzo Ball is able to tighten up his handle and become more of a force inside the arc, I could see him averaging 15 points, 10 assists and six rebounds per game, which are undoubtedly All-Star numbers.

Clearly Ball has a lot of work to do before he’s selected as an All-Star. That being said, the New Orleans Pelicans have to be ecstatic about him as a prospect. It seems like he’s getting better each month, which isn’t surprising given his lack of experience. Whether or not he becomes an All-Star is up for debate, but he has become an above-average player and it’s only year three. The arrow is pointing up for Lonzo Ball.