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There were high hopes for Lonzo Ball when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him as the second overall pick in 2017. He was coming off a sensational year at UCLA, and his playmaking seemed perfect for the Lakers.
His stint in Los Angeles, however, only lasted two years, as he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, along with Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and draft capital, in exchange for Anthony Davis. Since then, major injuries have hampered Ball, who remains without a team.
These days, he is busy with his podcast with his family. His former teammate on the Chicago Bulls, Matas Buzelis, was the guest on the latest episode, and they talked about their unforgettable experiences in the NBA.
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“I’ve been in some crazy moments, watching film in the NBA, where I’m just like, ‘Wow!'” said Ball.
He shared a story of when then-Bulls coach Billy Donovan went off on Buzelis during a film session for a “casual miss” on a step-back jumper. Ball recalled Donovan screaming, “Take that s*** and throw it in the garbage!” It reminded him of his time with the Lakers.
“It was very similar to when they told Julius Randle on the Lakers to just screen and rebound and don’t do anything else,” said the 28-year-old guard.
“I’m like, ‘Bro, we’re in the NBA.’ These are real players, and you’re putting them in a box. I feel like that’s just not good for your mental (maturity).”
Ball played with Randle during his rookie year. Their coach was Luke Walton. The Lakers finished with a 35-47 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight time.
Randle was productive that season, averaging a then-career-best 16.1 points on top of 8.0 rebounds. The following year, he was traded to the Pelicans.
Last season, Ball played 35 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers before being waived. He tallied 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes off the bench.
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