Lonzo Ball joined the Los Angeles Lakers unlike any other rookie. There's plenty of hype surrounding him, thanks to his dad LaVar Ball, so all eyes were naturally on him since he entered the league.

Fans and the media alike scrutinize Lonzo Ball for every mistake he makes, and his struggle to find some consistency early on didn't help his case.

However, fellow second-year player Kyle Kuzma thinks the criticisms on Ball are unwarranted and do not have much substance.

“I think it’s all just media narratives. How they think he should play because he’s the second pick and all the fans, but from an in-locker-room, NBA-mindset approach for the game, I think he’s done well,” Kyle Kuzma told Bill Oram of The Athletic.

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Ball is averaging only 9.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 39.7 percent from the field. Though those numbers aren't the most exciting, Ball's impact is found in his off-ball movement in the offense. He has also been pivotal for the Lakers on the defensive end, as the Lakers are clearly better in that department when he is on court.

The 21-year-old guard is an excellent off-ball defender and will likely get first team all-defense votes. He can guard 1-3 and keep nearly everyone in front of him.

The Purple and Gold are 19-14 on the season and currently rank 4th in the NBA's Western Conference under head coach Luke Walton. They average 112.8 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. However, they do allow 111.3 points per game, which ranks a lowly 20th in the league.