Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball played an all-around special alongside superstar teammate LeBron James in their blowout win against the Charlotte Hornets, as the two became the first pair of teammates to notch a triple-double in the same game since 2007.
They are also the first Lakers tandem to accomplish the feat since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it over three and a half decades ago.
Ball finished his night with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to secure his first triple-double of the season. He also added five steals to round out perhaps the best game of his sophomore campaign so far.
With this, the 6-foot-6 point guard certainly turned heads after struggling to put up consistent numbers for the most part of the season. However, for teammate Kyle Kuzma, Ball's efforts and play on the floor hardly get noticed.
Kyle Kuzma on Lonzo Ball: "He had a tremendous game. He plays defense every single game. People don't really notice what he really does, but to have his offense clicking like it was, it was good to see." via @SpectrumSN #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) December 16, 2018
Kuzma was just happy that his fellow Lakers rookie classmate finally had a good showing on offense. Most people would probably chalk this as a sophomore slump for the second year guard, as his across-the-board numbers have dipped this season. Moreover, his efficiency from the floor has barely improved from 36 percent last season to around 38 percent this year. However, a drop in statistical production is usually commonplace when LeBron James moves into town.
Thus, Ball really needed a game like this one to remind Lakers fans of what he is capable of doing. The former UCLA product entered the NBA as an all-around prospect. But the most notable improvement in his game from year one to year two is his defense.
The triple-double may have been the eye-popping stat of the night, but the five steals and how he limited Kemba Walker to a horrendous shooting night indicate his improvement and activity on the defensive side of the ball, where he has made his stride this season.
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