The Los Angeles Lakers were without rookie point guard Lonzo Ball during the team's preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets earlier this week, and his presence was missed both in the game and on the practice floor.
After practice on Friday, head coach Luke Walton talked about his rookie point guard. Although Ball has yet to play a regular season game, Walton seems to have seen enough to convince him that the rookie has what it takes to be successful on the NBA level.
“He's capable of doing it on this level, I know it was Summer League, and you're not playing against those guys, but he's a winner,” Walton said of Ball. “He really is. He makes his teammates better. People love playing with him. He makes the gym exciting to be in.”
The UCLA product has played the first two preseason games for the Lakers before suffering ankle sprain in the loss to the Denver Nuggets last Saturday at the Staples Center. Ball, as well as Brandon Ingram (head contusion), was ruled out Wednesday's game against the Nuggets at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
With Ball still dealing with the ankle sprain, the rookie's status remains uncertain for Sunday's game against the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas. Ingram may play some point guard in place of Ball if he is ruled out for a second straight game.
The Lakers coaching staff isn't in a hurry to get Ball back on the floor as they want to make sure he's healthy and ready to go for the team's season opener on Oct. 19 against the L.A. Clippers.
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