After a poor NBA debut against the Los Angeles Clippers, Lonzo Ball responded well against the Phoenix Suns in a back-to-back situation. In the 132-130 win, Ball finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in 37 minutes.
Down the stretch against the Suns, Ball made key plays to secure the team's first win of the 2017-18 NBA season. According to Bill Oram of Orange County Register, head coach Luke Walton says Ball's focus reminded him of teammate Kobe Bryant:
“I’m not calling him Kobe,” Walton said, “but Kobe was the same way. As a teammate, I knew not even to touch Kobe in those moments because Kobe was locked in on what he’s doing. In those moments, the players who don’t let the pressure get to them, they stay calm.”
While there will always be critics, Ball nearing a triple-double in his second professional game speaks volumes about him considering what happened the night before. As the rookie will be judged on a game-to-game basis, he has the right approach by focusing on the team instead of himself.
As for any young player, the challenge for Ball will be playing at a consistent level. While it may not always be these type of near triple-double performances, Ball's pass-first mentality promotes ball movement and easy opportunities.
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