The Los Angeles Lakers designed the Lonzo Ball with the second overall choice of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Ball passed Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo.
Ultimately, based on how their careers went so far, it is fair to say that Ball did not live up to expectations.
After a staggering two-year period in LA, he was included in a massive commercial package that sent Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans to the Lakers.
Davis ended up winning a championship immediately, while Ball’s irregular game resulted in New Orleans’ refusal to give him an extension of contract.
At this point, Ball’s father is publicly demanding that his son be traded (again), and reports have surfaced about which team he prefers to fall on.
Based on everything that happened, it seems safe to say that LA screwed up his choice when Magic Johnson took Ball with the second overall selection. He did not live up to the hype.
This week, Bill Oram of The Athletic revealed the absurd reason why Johnson chose to take someone as risky as Ball when there were better and safer options at stake.
“It was seen from the perspective of Magic and others as a good Hollywood story to pass up,” a source told Oram. “It has to work because it is a perfect story. Because it is Hollywood. “
In addition to his fickle game, Ball’s time in LA was also affected by injuries. At one point, the former UCLA standout appeared and suggested that he being constantly injured was the by-product of his shoes.
Although Ball has been admittedly healthier since moving to a new brand, his floating game has continued. He is currently in the middle of a very strong race, but if his history in the league has taught us anything, a descent is inevitable.