As the Los Angeles Lakers‘ president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson is doing everything in his power to bring his beloved Lakers back to relevance.
Johnson, one of only five NBA players in history to have accumulated over 10,000 assists, knows an outstanding floor general when he sees one. And with Los Angeles selecting UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball as the second overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, Magic could not have asked for a better player to drop a dime back at him with the Lakers' rebuilding process.
Johnson recently spoke with the media and sang nothing but praises for the 19-year-old rookie:
“Lonzo is special, no question about it, because he makes everybody better and he does something you can't teach: He gives you a scoring pass. Very few point guards in this league can do that… Of course free agents are excited. He makes the game easier for you… You want a guy who can make the game easy for you – a pass-first guy.”
What made the five-time NBA champion such a celebrated and decorated player during his time was his selfless play, and Johnson is thrilled to see somewhat of a young version of him in Ball to carry on the Lakers' esteemed legacy.
Of course, Ball wouldn't be able to succeed in the big leagues if he didn't have a stellar supporting cast. That's where Johnson's remarks come into the picture. Given how NBA teams are now focused on forming superteams with the best available players on the market, having Lonzo as the starting point guard will make the Lakers executive's task of wooing future marquee free agents to join the Lakers all the more easier.
Some players don't just seek a fat paycheck in free agency. A great number players want to either win championship rings, hone their potential in hopes of an even bigger payday, or simply play for a team that can maximize their skills. Ball, being an ultimate team player in Magic's eyes, can fulfill those criteria and for the good of the Lakers organization at that.
Bright days are ahead for the Lakeshow, and it's Ball who'll act as the team's beacon of light guiding other NBA players towards the promised land that Johnson had envisioned.
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