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Los Angeles Lakers rookie sensation Lonzo Ball is hard at work trying to get himself in game shape in time enough to be ready for opening night in the NBA.
Ball suffered a sprained ankle against the Denver Nuggets which sidelined him for the remainder of the preseason schedule, but he has been cleared to play and announced that he will be playing for sure in Thursday night's game against the L.A. Clippers.
Although he showed some rust and struggled with turnovers, head coach Luke Walton believes he'll be just fine come Thursday.
Lonzo Ball says he was “a little rusty” in practice. A few turnovers. #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 16, 2017
The arena will be packed as fans fill the house ready to see Ball make his debut in his very first NBA game, but that's only part of the excitement.
Opening night will also feature Ball playing in his Big Baller Brand Zo2 Remix sneakers, that have been in rounds of controversial conversation, but there are plenty who have been waiting for this to happen.
Lonzo Ball on his rookie debut is special: “Its the opener. That’s all there is to it.” #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 16, 2017
After causing a buzz in the Lakers' summer league games in the discontinued Zo2 Prime shoes and the idea to wear different shoes from different sneaker companies, the question has come as to what he will wear in the first game.
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When Ball was asked by ESPN which shoe he would wear in the game his answer wasn't absolute, but gives a solid hint of which way he's leaning.
“Who knows?” Ball said. “Probably my shoes, though, thinking about it right now. I'll definitely be in my shoes the first game and then just go from there.”
Ball and his family are looking to make waves in the shoe industry by shaking up the way athletes obtain shoe deals, and even try to compete with them as opposed to signing on and stuck with that one brand.
The Big Baller Brand ZO2 Prime still retails for $495, and those who have already ordered the discontinued shoe will instead receive the new design or a refund if they request.
Two debuts, one player and one shoe. Most of all, this is a fresh start for the Lakers post Kobe Bryant, and a glimpse into what the future of the team will look like.
“I think just the grind of the season, 82 games, I've never played that before and it's my first year so I don't know what really to expect. But I'm going in there with an open mind ready to learn, ready to get better and just looking forward to the challenge.”
