One of the biggest arguments of this season has been whether Lonzo Ball can be the 3rd-best player on a championship level team.
He has played like it lately, putting up some monster numbers to help keep the Pelicans’ fledgling chances alive.
But has he done enough to secure his spot as part of the “Big 3” in the Big Easy?
I took a look at some of the contending teams in the NBA who have three players who are considered their “Big 3” to see how Long Ball stacks up.
Most of these guys are veterans, so one thing to take into consideration is that Lonzo Ball is not a finished product and should get better, though how much better could be the difference between the Pelicans being contenders or pretenders next season.
Here are some of the “3rd-best” players on contenders and how Lonzo Ball compares to them as far as talent, impact and future chances to win titles.
New Orleans Pelicans: The veteran point guards
Mike Conley
The Utah Jazz are tied for the best record in the NBA behind a big three of Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and veteran point guard Mike Conley.
Conley is having one of his best seasons at age 33, has the best defensive rating in basketball and is still averaging 16.4 points and six assists even though he is no longer a first option.
He is a good comparison for Lonzo Ball in some ways, as both are well-rounded players who can defend their positions well and knock down 3-point shots.
Lonzo Ball is close to as good as Conley now and could surpass him if he continues to get better.
Kemba Walker
Some would argue that the Celtics aren’t title contenders but they definitely were coming into the season and still have the talent to win the Eastern Conference.
Behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Walker is the third-best player. Walker is a more well-rounded scorer than Lonzo Ball and has topped the 20+ points per game mark five times in his career.
Walker and Lonzo are fairly even when it comes to passing and Lonzo is the better, more versatile defender, so this one is nearly a toss up and your opinion will probably go to which team you like more.
Can Lonzo Ball become a consistent 18-20 point per game scorer like Kemba Walker? If so, he will eventually be the better player, but right now it’s close.
New Orleans Pelicans: Comparing Lonzo Ball to the “3rd-best” wings
Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris is the 3rd-best player on the 76ers, who are eyeing the Finals this season behind MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who might be the best all-around defensive player in the NBA.
Harris is having a fantastic season, averaging 19.7 points, seven rebounds and 3.7 assists for one of the best teams in the NBA.
Lonzo Ball has been playing more off the ball this season, so it is fair to compare him to wing-type players.
Right now, Harris is a much better all-around offensive player than Ball and even shoots a higher percentage from 3-point range, though Lonzo takes way more attempts.
Lonzo would have to improve his all-around offensive game to be in this league, especially when it comes to the mid-range, getting to the rim and getting to the free-throw line, which he rarely does.
Lonzo also has to be more consistent, as Harris is pretty much money for 18-20 points per night while Lonzo might score 30 one night and five the next.
Harris is one of the best third options in basketball and Lonzo Ball is not there yet.
Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. is a guy who I hoped the Pelicans might make a play for at the deadline, and he has shown why, as he has evolved into one of the best all-around forwards in the game and is a nice third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Porter Jr. is already a better all-around scorer than Lonzo Ball, as he can get it done from all three levels and is shooting 44 percent from long range on a pretty high volume.
He is averaging 18.9 points to Lonzo’s 14.4 and also grabs 7.6 rebounds per game, but Porter Jr. is not much of a playmaker, so Lonzo is much better in that department, especially in the open floor.
Porter Jr. has made the kind of leap that the New Orleans Pelicans hoped Lonzo Ball would make as a scorer and right now he is the better and younger player.
New Orleans Pelicans: Lonzo Ball vs. Middleton and Kyrie
Khris Middleton
Middleton is not a name that most casual fans even know, but he has evolved into one of the best wings in the game as a teammate to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday.
You could argue that Middleton is the 2nd-best player on this team, but I gave the edge to Holiday because I like him and he’s the better all-around defender.
Middleton can get it done from all three levels, which is what really separates him from Lonzo Ball, who does most of his scoring from behind the 3-point line.
If Lonzo can add the mid-range game and get to the line more often, as Middleton has, he can get to his level as a scorer, but right now, he’s not there.
I actually like this comparison for Lonzo, as he has the size to be an impact defender and guy who can get his own shot, as Middleton does.
Middleton went from mostly a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter to an all-around scorer who an get his own shot, which is what Lonzo Ball needs to do.
Kyrie Irving
The fact that Kyrie Irving is the 3rd-best player on Brooklyn shows just how good the Nets are, and he is probably the best “3-best” player in the NBA.
When he is rolling, Irving can still be the best player on the floor against anyone, is averaging nearly 27 points per game and can get it done from all over the floor.
Lonzo is never going to be this type of scorer, as few are, but he is already a monumentally better defender than Irving ever was or ever will be.
These two are not very similar as players and the only reason Kyrie is thought of as a “3rd-best” option is because he is on a super team.
Lonzo Ball has to improve before he can be considered in the top tier of “3rd-best” players in the NBA, but he has shown enough to make me think he can get there, especially if he adds some more weapons to his offensive bag and keeps imrproving on defense.