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UCLA Basketball’s Lonzo Ball is a Model Athlete

By Mike Regalado

Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) reacts to scoring against the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) reacts to scoring against the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite the pressures of being a top college basketball player, UCLA Basketball’s Lonzo Ball has been the model example of how to present one’s self as a top tier athlete.

Remember that time UCLA Basketball’s freshman point guard Lonzo Ball tripped a player and then cried about it?

Do you remember when Lonzo Ball had that monster dunk and then threw up money signs? Or how about his step-back 3-pointer which was followed by him pretending to stir a pot?

No? That is because it never happened. Sure he occasionally points his finger to the sky after a big shot and even shushed the crowd in Kentucky, but he’s never done anything egregious and over the top.

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He celebrates as every other college basketball player celebrates, with a sense of pride and humility. The only difference is he can back it up with his skills which have him on his way to becoming an elite athlete.

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For all the accolades he has received, for all the attention he has gotten for bringing UCLA back to the land of the living and for all the distractions he’s had to take on, Lonzo Ball has been nothing but a model athlete.

Ball is as humble a player as you will ever see. With the numbers he puts up, he has every right to get in people’s faces, get the attention of the cameras or, for all intents and purposes, be a “dick”. But he hasn’t. He has just gone out and played Ball-style ball.

It is the complete opposite of his father, LaVar Ball, who seems hungry for attention and makes boisterous comments about his sons and about who he can beat in a game of one-on-one. There are good parts to LaVar and there are bad parts to LaVar, but his overall display is something you won’t see from Lonzo.

Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) prepares to shoot the ball against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) prepares to shoot the ball against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite the fact that UCLA Basketball has made a huge turn around and is one of the best offensive teams in the country, you have to give it to Ball, and even Head Coach Steve Alford, for having his team represent the four letters on their jersey with the upmost dignity and respect.

Ball is the type of player young hoopsters should aspire to be.

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As the floor general of this team, Ball is representing himself and the University well.  Despite what many will say about him, no one will get a lot of chatter from him. Ball does his talking on the court and he is going to be talking for a long time.