Lonzo Ball is currently a member of the Chicago Bulls, but once upon a time he was the anointed Next Big Star of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ball represented the purple and gold for a two-year stretch between 2017 and 2019, before ultimately being shipped off to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis.
During that run in L.A., Ball had the opportunity to play alongside LeBron James.
This week, Ball spoke honestly and openly about what that experience was like.
“[LeBron] was my favorite player growing up,” he said.
“Being able to share the court with him and learn from him was a time of my life I’ll never get back, I’ll never take for granted.”
Ball spoke similarly fondly of being able to place in Los Angeles, where he hails from.
“Just playing for the home team,” he continued, “you know, being a Lakers fan growing up, watching all the greats, and then being able to put that jersey on was great.”
This isn’t the first time Ball has waxed poetic about his Laker days, though clearly his tone is a bit different this time around.
It will be interesting to see where Ball’s career goes from here. Obviously he has made more headlines in recent years for his lavish gifts to his girlfriend than substantive on-the-court accomplishments, but when healthy, he is supremely talented.
The number one priority for him right now has to be getting healthy. He himself has acknowledged that at least some of his perpetual injury woes are a byproduct of the terrible decision to wear Big Baller Brand shoes.
Ball has since stopped, but the health problems have continued.
That’s one way to prepare for the Panthers’ opener. https://t.co/EUFgl29Wtf
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 8, 2022
If Ball can get right physically, return to the court and be a meaningful contributor for the Bulls – he could still become a version of what he was once promised to be.
Should that not occur, though, Ball could go down as one of the most disappointing players of his generation.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
