Lonzo Ball drains his first NBA 3-pointer
In the second game of the NBA preseason, the Lakers and Timberwolves squared off in what’s sure to be one of the most entertaining matchups come regular season.
Los Angles downed Minnesota 108-99 behind Summer League MVP and number two overall pick Lonzo Ball despite his cold shooting night from the floor.
Both LA and Minnesota failed to make the playoffs last year. Though the franchises left the regular seasons lottery-bound, with revamped rosters, the two teams will hope to make a postseason push in the coming campaign.
The Timberwolves may have sent Spanish passing sensation Ricky Rubio packing in a trade to Utah, but they brought in Allstars Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler as well as three time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford in a busy offseason.
Surrounding their young, talented but misguided core of Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns with proven NBA veterans and defenders should catapult the T-wolves near the top of the west.
The Lakers were busy as well. They shipped former number two overall pick D’Angelo Russell away to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez and promptly replaced Russell with this year’s second pick Lonzo Ball. In addition, they added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to their roster in one of the offseason’s best deals.
While they certainly got better, Los Angeles unfortunately happens to have the pleasure of playing in the deepest conference in all of basketball and should realistically expect to finish near the bottom once again.
Though the Lakers will struggle through the growing pains of an inexperienced and untested team, their future looks bright with a young core of talented players like Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and of course Lonzo Ball.
Controversy and cameras have followed LA’s top pick since his father Lavar Ball preordained his son be drafted by the Lakers while playing college ball for UCLA last year. Since then, the infamous NBA father has promised 50 wins, Rookie of the Year, and an Allstar nod for his eldest child.
The collective basketball world will get their first look at Lonzo Ball as the Lakers kick off their season at home against the Los Angles Clippers on October 19 at STAPLES Center. Though it’s just one of 82 games in the NBA season, fans will surely be watching to see if the star rook sinks or swims.
