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For Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton, Lonzo Ball forms a critical part of the purple and gold squad, tagging the second year man as a game-changing player.
Per Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation, Walton was asked about Ball's impact on the team. Walton pointed out that Ball is aiming for consistency, and the coach also views the 21-year-old as a “game-changing, game-winning player.”
Walton continued: "When he's on and flowing, he's a game-changing, game-winning player. … We have all the confidence in the world that every night he's going to come out there and help us win games."
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) November 5, 2018
Through nine games so far, seven of which were part of the starting lineup, Ball has logged in 9.3 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 39.5 percent from downtown, as well as 4.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per contest. He's playing 27 minutes per game.
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To start the season, Ball came off the bench and served as the backup point guard for veteran Rajon Rondo. But Ball was inserted into the starting lineup when Rondo was suspended, and the youngster has stayed there ever since. It's still a matter of wait-and-see if Ball will thrive in his new spot.
In their game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Ball played for a measly 19 minutes and finished with just three points on 1-of-6 shooting. He bounced back with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists against the Toronto Raptors the next night, but the Lakers still suffered an ugly loss despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard.
A close observation of Ball's play reveals that despite his limited touches, the 21-year-old makes the most out of his opportunities. He's pretty active in every play — on the lookout for loose balls and open teammates. Perhaps this is what Walton sees, which is why he was all praises for Ball. As the season progresses, Walton hopes to see more consistency from his young point guard.
