Lonzo Ball had an underwhelming debut in front of Los Angeles Lakers fans in a sold out Staples Center on Thursday night. While many awaited to see a Showtime style offense breezing past the L.A. Clippers, it was their rival neighbors who got the best of Ball in a 108-92 season-opening win.
Ball was held to three points on 1-of-6 from the floor and 0-for-2 from the line, matched up against a hungry dog in Patrick Beverley, who hounded him throughout the game, limiting his versatile all-around floor game.
Lakers president Magic Johnson cited Ball's debut was more than what other rookies go through, having the pressure of the world on his shoulders by trying to impress his hometown crowd.
“Look, I can't even imagine being him right now,” Johnson said of Ball and all the attention surrounding him before the game, according to ESPN. “Being an L.A. kid, this has got to be crazy. Always wanted to play for the Lakers and he gets his first game tonight? Wow… now it is for real now. It is no exhibition. This is real.”
Ball was matched up against one of the toughest defenders in Beverley, who earned First Team All-Defensive honors last season and has been known to hound opposing point guards on the perimeter.
“[And] he is up against a tough dude, that is what I am telling him. Patrick Beverley is no joke,” Johnson added. “He is one of the best defenders that we have, and he is also one of the best at playing mind games, too. Once he's got you, mentally he attacks you. He is almost like Draymond [Green]. They talk to you. So he has to be really ready and stay strong and stay into his game. He is going up against a pro that really knows how to play.”
The young rookie will have plenty of other experiences against tough competition throughout this season and it will be ultimately up to him to rise to the occasion, now with a share of what it's like to be at the end of a rough awakening.
Follow Us
Subscribe