Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers selected point guard Lonzo Ball out of UCLA with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. Ball was considered to be one of the best all-around players in the draft and someone Magic Johnson and company couldn't pass up on once they were on the clock.

After a decent but nowhere near stellar rookie season, Ball will be sharing time at point guard in the backcourt with a proven veteran in Rajon Rondo. The Lakers signed Rondo to a one-year deal and he will be given the opportunity to compete for the starting job putting pressure on the former Bruins star. Head coach Luke Walton recently talked about the new dynamic in the backcourt on The Jim Rome Show, transcription via Hoops Hype.

“I think it will be great,” Walton said of the point guard duo. “I know Rondo and I know Zo, and they’re both very competitive people. To me, that’s how you get the most growth and how you get a team that can reach its full potential – when you have people going at each other and pushing each other in practice. They key is to make a culture where they go at each other, but they also have a brotherhood within the locker room so as soon as they’re not competing in practice, [they’re part of] that family atmosphere where they’re pulling for one another in the games and learning from one another and teaching each other.”

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With a starting job up for grabs, it'll be interesting to see how the relationship between Ball and Rondo develops from now until the decision is made to name a starter at floor general. Rondo may already have the edge for a number of different reasons, but namely, the fact Ball is undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week.

Lonzo's knee has been an issue for quite some time and it was recently revealed he has a torn meniscus in that left knee. Only time will tell if it will be a persistent issue for the young guard, but he is supposed to be ready for training camp potentially setting up the toughest challenge of his career up to this point against the savvy veteran.