Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Basketball: The 10 best men’s basketball players since 2000

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 10
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Lonzo Ball #2 of the UCLA Bruins sets up a play against the USC Trojans during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UCLA won 76-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Lonzo Ball #2 of the UCLA Bruins sets up a play against the USC Trojans during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UCLA won 76-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Lonzo Ball (2016-17)

Career Stats: 14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 7.6 apg, 1.8 spg, FG% .551

The term “generational player” was thrown around a lot, but it was the best description for this Magic Johnson-esque specimen from Chino Hills. There was a lot of hype around Ball when he came to UCLA, mostly from his father, but it was all true.

Ball had the skills and the team to bring Steve Alford’s UCLA Bruins back to national prominence. He had an awkward shot, but he made it count as he was one of the top scorers on the team. But that was not his best feature. The freshman phenom was an incredible passer as he led, not just the team in assists, but the nation with 7.6 per game.

Though he was unable to win any type of hardware for the Bruins, he did led them to an astounding 31-5 record, quite the turn around from 15-17 the season before.

But his stay in Westwood was short-lived as he was bound for the NBA, which fans assumed from the beginning of the season. He was drafted second overall by the Lakers and this past season made the All-NBA Rookie Team.