Pelicans: Who will be better, Lonzo Ball or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
New Orleans Pelicans: Lonzo Ball and Nickeil Alexander Walker’s defense
Both Lonzo Ball and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are big guards who can defend multiple spots.
Both are considered plus defenders, though Lonzo gets a lot more accolades in that department, largely because he has played more and is more versatile.
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Lonzo leads in all of the traditional defensive stats like steals and blocks but also in the advanced stats like defensive win shares. He also wins the eye test, as we’ve seen Lonzo Ball lock up some of the best offensive players in the league.
Both players have been accused of taking plays off on the defensive end, and both still have some work to do, but Lonzo Ball is the better defender now and should be in the future as well, though I think it will be closer than some people might imagine.
Both of these guys could end up being “All-Defensive-type guards who can defend multiple spots and be smothering on the ball.
But Lonzo gets the edge due to his size and more versatile defensive game.
Edge: Lonzo Ball