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Through only 10 games into his professional career, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball is gathering fans after every game. His latest is Memphis Grizzlies lefty floor general Mike Conley, who praised the Chino Hills native after a 107-102 defeat at the hands of the Lakers.
Ball has overcome a summer filled with hype, ranging from his father's antics to the release of his signature shoes and the hoopla that came with it. It's been all eyes on Ball from the time he step foot on the court — from the preseason to when the games count.
“He’s handled his situation about as good as anybody could,” Conley said before the game, according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. “He seems like a great player, great attitude. All about the team. He’s my kind of player in a sense. I like guys who are unselfish, who are about the wins more than anything else.
“He’s got a lot of room to grow obviously, but he’ll be fantastic for this league going forward and end up being a star.”
The No. 2 overall selection didn't have his best game, notching only nine points, nine assists, and five rebounds in the outing, struggling from the field once again with a 3-of-13 performance and 1-of-8 night shooting from deep.
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But it didn't keep Ball from returning the compliments after leading his team to the .500 mark.
“He’s very fast,” Ball said of Conley. “Good at pick and roll. He’s a smart player. Good player.”
Unlike his dad's often pretentious chatter, Ball has remained cool and collected to start his career, earning the respect of opponents by his play on the court and his interactions with his teammates, rather than what appears on the tabloids the following day.
