Lonzo Ball Primed For Career Year With New Orleans Pelicans

With a fresh start, new team and an offensive system tailored to his skill set, the 2019-2020 campaign in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform should solidify Lonzo Ball’s reputation after a tough time in Los Angeles.

It was a foregone conclusion in 2017 that the Los Angeles Lakers were selecting UCLA standout freshman Lonzo Ball as their point guard of the future. Magic Johnson, who was running the Lakers as President of Basketball Operations at the time made the decision to draft Ball while showering him with unfair expectations and hype.

After a few underwhelming seasons in Los Angeles that were hampered by injuries, Ball was shipped to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis trade. Now out of the bright lights of Staples Center, Ball is in prime position to succeed and remind the NBA world why he was one of the most talked-about prospects in recent memory.

In Los Angeles, Ball was unfairly handed ‘savior’ responsibilities. The Lakers franchise was under pressure following underwhelming rookie campaigns from D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram. Ball, who received more media attention than his peers primarily due to his father’s braggadocious manner, never seemed to embrace, or even want, that attention.

While rival rookies De’Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. worked through their struggles under-the-radar in small markets, Ball was a weekly target on national media outlets.

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NBA media members and message boards critiqued Ball for bad shooting mechanics and a perceived lack of floor generalship that was supposed to mirror Jason Kidd’s. While Ball was mauled, many left out the fact he averaged 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game as a rookie,  eerily similar to Kidd’s 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists.

But the unfair pressure was set in stone long before Ball even laced up his sneakers for the Lakers. The lofty expectations kicked in when Magic Johnson declared the Chino Hill native the next Laker legend.

Talk of retired Ball having his jersey retired was being mentioned by Magic Johnson before Ball ever tried one on officially. Johnson doubled down on those remarks when asked about the lofty declaration.

"“He has greatness written all over him,” Johnson said. “Now he just has to go out and push him, and we will, too. And [Lakers coach] Luke [Walton] and the coaching staff will do the same thing and it’s OK, because he receives all that well.”"

Talk about pressure.

LeBron James dealt with his adversity in Cleveland, Kevin Durant had Oklahoma City.  Ball was thrust into the Los Angeles spotlight that put unfair pressure on a kid who happens to play the toughest position in the NBA.

James was an Akron raised prep-to-pro prospect giving plenty of time to learn in Cleveland. Durant was a talented University of Texas product drafted by Seattle but playing in Oklahoma City. The Thunder fanbase was just happy to have a competitive team.

The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Ball after a season playing for UCLA and a lifetime of Los Angeles youth circuit highlights. The expectations were as different as the welcoming environment for Ball with the Lakers.

With Ball now settling into a new home with the New Orleans Pelicans, there appears to be a factor of relief, excitement and eagerness to show and prove naysayers wrong.

"“I was kind of excited, honestly,” Ball told ESPN when describing his reaction to the trade. “I kind of figured someone was going to get moved soon enough. I knew Anthony Davis wanted to come bad. Anytime you can get a guy like that, you are going to have to do what you have to do to get him. So I was kind of already just waiting for it, honestly, and I was happy to go with two guys I am comfortable with in B.I. [Brandon Ingram] and JHart [Josh Hart]. I am excited to see what we can do.“I tell people when I was a rookie, I probably would have been sad,” Ball added of being traded. “Just being from L.A., having my whole family here and wanting to be a Laker. But being in the league for two years, knowing it’s a business, as long you get to play, that’s a blessing in itself. I’m excited to get started.”"

Ball has shown incredible poise and maturity in the months leading up to the trade and following. Surely Ball’s professionalism has been a surprise for a young player who was ridiculed along with former teammate Kyle Kuzma for being immature during their time together.

Playing in New Orleans, Ball has a head coach in Alvin Gentry that will run a system that fits his skill set. In 2018 the Pelicans were ranked No. 10 in fast-break points with Elfrid Payton steering the ship at point guard. Look for Ball, the superior talent, along with Zion Williamson, a physical marvel, to catapult this offense into one of the leagues best.

"“I’m very comfortable in a high uptempo offense,” Ball said at his introductory press conference. “I know the media’s not like it was in LA, but I know the fans are great, they’re going to come out and support and I’m looking forward to putting on a show for them.”"

With Los Angeles in his rearview mirror, the 21-year-old appears poised to prove his doubters wrong. It should come as no surprise if the 2019-2020 campaign is Lonzo Ball recognized as one of the best two-way point guards in the league after a successful season in New Orleans.