The 2017 NBA Draft is sure to be a huge draw and part of the fervor has to do with former UCLA Basketball point guard Lonzo Ball.
The 2017 NBA Draft is going to be a incredible event. A draft has not drawn this much attention in, well, possibly ever. Part of the reason surrounds a certain former UCLA Basketball player that not only has skills, but has his own brand.
The Big Baller himself, Lonzo Ball, is looking to be selected high in Thursday’s draft and it has been nothing short of a media circus. From his father to Footlocker commercials to assumptions about going to a certain LA team to a rivalry with Markelle Fultz, Ball is been in the thick of it all.
And that is what we are going to try and avoid here and just focus on the skills of Lonzo Ball.
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Vital Stats
| Height | Weight | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6′ 6″ | 190 lbs. | 19 | Chino Hills, CA |
Strengths
This kid is a human highlight machine. Lonzo Ball literally knows how to do it all on the offensive side of the ball. He is a shooter, a dunker and a distributor.
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Lonzo is not afraid to shoot well behind the three point line. It is something he has been accustomed to since high school and has become very proficient with it.
He is also very good around the rim. He has hops and is a highlight dunker. Not only can he finish with an alley-oop, but he is also prone to also be the one to start the highlight plays, as he likens to get all of his teammates involved.
The most intriguing quality about him is how unselfish he is. UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford said that he believed that in certain games that Lonzo was going to try to win games by finding his teammates and purposefully not shooting in a game.
Though that is not what NBA scouts want to hear, it does amplify the fact that Ball cares about what is going on around him and not just his own stats.
Lonzo also has a certain drive. He wants to succeed and will find the way to do it.
Season Stats (per game)
| Points | Assists | Rebounds | FG% | 3FG% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.6 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 55.1 | 41.2 | 67.3 |
Weaknesses
Ball is not exactly a defensive player, but he did have his moments. Many critics say he plays no defense, but that is not exactly true. Lonzo hustles and when he sees a chance to turn defense to offense, he attacks which led to 0.8 blocks per game and 1.8 steals.
Not great stats, but it shows initiative. Still, he is not a lockdown defender and often gets burned when opponents make him move backwards or laterally.
Ball is excellent from behind the arc and finishing around the hoop, but he does not have a consistent mid-range game. It seems his only options are dunking or long three-point shots.
Final Analysis
Ball has the offensive skills to lead a team. If he can develop on the defensive side, he can be a superstar. Either way, there is a reason he will be a Top 3 pick in the NBA Draft and whatever team manages to select him will get some instant firepower.