Lonzo Ball entered the league with as much hype as any rookie in recent memory. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted the rookie with the hopes that he could develop into an all-around player and their point guard of the future.
While many people focus on Lonzo's offense, he has the potential to become an excellent defender. Not only is he talented, but Ball is also supremely confident in his ability to defend the best of the best.
“I think I’m one of the best defenders on the team,” Ball told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. “So when you’re guarding some other team’s best players, especially if they are guards, just try to make their jobs as hard as I can.”
Ball's streaky — if not downright poor — shooting was a major storyline from his rookie season. He struggled to shoot the ball with consistency, so that criticism is fair, but the rest of his game was overlooked in the process.
Ball's confidence in his defense is not unfounded. He used his length and instincts to disrupt opposing point guards all season long. He still has a long way to go, but he showed flashes of brilliance on defense last season.
Furthermore, Ball is an excellent rebounder. He uses his size and length to attack the glass. He averaged just under seven rebounds per game last season. The importance of rebounding shouldn't be underscored. Taking away second-chance opportunities is crucial for a great defense.
Ball is capable of developing into a lockdown defender for Los Angeles, and he's confident enough to get there. Hopefully, he can stay healthy after recently returning from knee surgery.
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