Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee says Lonzo Ball is “one of the most underrated defensive point guards” in the NBA.
Ball still has a lot of work to do on the offensive end, but the former No. 2 overall pick has already established himself as a pest on defense. The 22-year-old pass-first guard has tremendous lateral foot quickness, which allows him to stay in front of all these quick guards. His 6-foot-6 frame also makes it tough for guards to shoot over him on stepback jumpers.
McGee says the Lakers missed Ball immensely when the guard was lost for the season in January after suffering a serious ankle injury.
“We lost him damn near the whole season,” McGee said on FS1's Undisputed, via Lonzo Wire. “Lonzo is one of the most underrated defensive point guards. He’s extremely underrated. When he was playing, the way he would 94-feet pressure somebody, come on, man. And the court vision… Playing alongside Lonzo and LeBron (James), and (Rajon) Rondo coming off the bench. Come on, man. It was beautiful when everything was clicking, and then people got injured.”
The Lakers missed the playoffs this season, the first year of the LeBron James era in Los Angeles. The Purple and Gold were in the fourth spot in the West after defeating the Golden State Warriors on Christmas, but that's the same game James sustained a left groin injury which sidelined him for 17 consecutive games.
The Lakers went 6-11 without James and were never able to recover from that putrid stretch. The team clearly missed Ball's defensive intensity and playmaking ability as well.
McGee is an unrestricted free agent this summer. The big man has said he wants to come back to LA. We'll see if the Lakers have interest in bringing him back.
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