I predicted about mid-college-season that Ball would take UCLA to the National Championship game.
I considered him the best passer since Jason Kidd, and a better shooter, plus 6-6.

I figured his passing will make him a great NBA point, but wasn't sure about his shooting mostly due to his ugly shooting form.

His debut game showed his passing, but seemed to validate my concern for his shooting. I thought his ugly form meant he needed more space to get his shot off, and that with the farther NBA line, it would greatly impact his long range shooting form.

well after 3 summer league games, he does appear to be an elite passer, and his deep range is questionable, but overall I'd say this early look validates that he has the potential to be a NBA all-star.

of course it's against rookies, only 3 games, and basically a glorified pick up game, plus nba coaches haven't studied his tendencies and game planned against him.

regardless, the hype machine has already launched with lots of fuel to burn

It will be fun rooting against the lakers like I never have before.

I'd have loved Magic if he had gone differently and let the Balls fall flat on their embarrassed faces. But now, I have to cheer every time I see a horrible stat line.

I'm with Joel Embeid of the 76ers, hoping vets have extra motivation against the rookie.

Sad it's come to this, but as fans, we get to root for, and against, and it's all just added publicity and marketing for what they sell.

I'd rather he/it just go away, as I don't want to care.

ESPN worships stars. Looks like he could be one

concordtom;842853448 said:

---

It will be fun rooting against the lakers like I never have before.

I'd have loved Magic if he had gone differently and let the Balls fall flat on their embarrassed faces. But now, I have to cheer every time I see a horrible stat line.

I'm with Joel Embeid of the 76ers, hoping vets have extra motivation against the rookie.

Sad it's come to this, but as fans, we get to root for, and against, and it's all just added publicity and marketing for what they sell.

I'd rather he/it just go away, as I don't want to care.

---

I understand not being a fan. But why strong (personal?) antipathy to a highly skilled and personable young man?

HoopDreams;842853443 said:

---

I predicted about mid-college-season that Ball would take UCLA to the National Championship game.
I considered him the best passer since Jason Kidd, and a better shooter, plus 6-6.

I figured his passing will make him a great NBA point, but wasn't sure about his shooting mostly due to his ugly shooting form.

His debut game showed his passing, but seemed to validate my concern for his shooting. I thought his ugly form meant he needed more space to get his shot off, and that with the farther NBA line, it would greatly impact his long range shooting form.

well after 3 summer league games, he does appear to be an elite passer, and his deep range is questionable, but overall I'd say this early look validates that he has the potential to be a NBA all-star.

of course it's against rookies, only 3 games, and basically a glorified pick up game, plus nba coaches haven't studied his tendencies and game planned against him.

regardless, the hype machine has already launched with lots of fuel to burn

---

He might have had his Summer League debut, but he hasn't played a minute in the NBA. A whole lot being made about the Summer League-no predictions here, but a lot of practice time between now and end of October...

im rooting for him to succeed now only because so many want him to fail because of the dad. He's a good player and if anyone read his players tribune article, seems like a good guy as well. People get way too up in arms about the dad, he's full of it and he knows it, but no less than this Mayweather and Mcgregor fight tour.

I'm sure that he will get roasted plenty of times this NBA season. There are a lot of really good point guards that can do that to anyone in the NBA, but I think he'll hold his own considering that he's a rook.

Warriors need a rival in L.A. to be a halfway decent team to make the regular season interesting.

oskirules;842853614 said:

---

Warriors need a rival in L.A. to be a halfway decent team to make the regular season interesting.

---

I think it might happen, interesting or not.

But the Warriors don't "need" it any more than the Lakers needed a Northern California rival back in the day (which they never had other than maybe that one year with the Kings and the fixed game).

Fyght4Cal;842853458 said:

---

I understand not being a fan. But why strong (personal?) antipathy to a highly skilled and personable young man?

---

Cause it means having to listen to his dad.

OneKeg;842853643 said:

---

.....other than maybe that one year with the Kings and the fixed game).

---

It's vague. Remind me of that?

gobears725;842853579 said:

---

People get way too up in arms about the dad, he's full of it and he knows it, but no less than this Mayweather and Mcgregor fight tour.
.

---

Does anyone here actually care about that fighting crap?

Quote:

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.....other than maybe that one year with the Kings and the fixed game).

---

concordtom;842853651 said:

---

It's vague. Remind me of that?

---

[URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NBA_Playoffs#.281.29_Sacramento_Kings_vs._.283.29_Los_Angeles_Lakers"][U]Google is your friend[/U][/URL]! :p

Don't really know if it was fixed, though it did seem fishy at the time. I'm neither a Kings nor a Lakers fan so I have no stake.

concordtom;842853647 said:

---

Cause it means having to listen to his dad.

---

What's your problem with his dad?

concordtom;842853651 said:

---

It's vague. Remind me of that?

---

It was the year when Kobe Bryant was playing in Games 3 4 and 5 with food poisoning.

LawoftheBear;842853690 said:

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It was the year when Kobe Bryant was playing in Games 3 4 and 5 with food poisoning.

---

Interesting, considering Games 3 and 4 were in L.A. and games 3-5 were played over the span of 5 days, and the alleged food poisoning occurred before Game 2. Some food poisoning. Some Lakers historian, too.

I got no problem with Lonzo Ball. In fact, I'm looking forward to watching his time in the NBA: He seems like the closest thing to the next Jason Kidd. Whatever his dad says or does is of little interest to me. And, though I am a long-time Warriors fan, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more challenge from the Southland... stir things up a little. If Lonzo is for real, top free agents will be lined up to play for the Lakers and to score off of his passes.

concordtom;842853652 said:

---

Does anyone here actually care about that fighting crap?

---

I love boxing. The Mayweather-MacGregor bout has some interest, sort of from a circus angle. I never thought I'd find myself rooting for a jerk like Mayweather, but I will be rooting for him as a boxer, not as a person. Most people, especially nowadays, don't understand that boxing is a true martial art and that the fighters (at the highest levels) are actually quite skilled. MacGregor, apart from the bravado, is supposed to be a good guy, but he will be destroyed by a top-level boxer (as long as they are boxing... if they were in the octagon, it would be the other way around).

concordtom;842853652 said:

---

Does anyone here actually care about that fighting crap?

---

It's entertaining, although the 4 day tour was overkill and turned into WWE. I made the comparison because its smart marketing, Mayweather in particular has profited greatly since he made himself into the "villain", no different than what Lavar is doing.

I guess Ball is bidding up his endorsement deal with one of the big shoe companies
He's now worn his own brand shoe, nike, adidas and UA, and his dad said he is open to a contract at the right price
also the middle brother just got a new Ferrari

meet the new kardasians (only in basketball shoes, not high heels)

HoopDreams;842854051 said:

---

I guess Ball is bidding up his endorsement deal with one of the big shoe companies
He's now worn his own brand shoe, nike, adidas and UA, and his dad said he is open to a contract at the right price
also the middle brother just got a new Ferrari

meet the new kardasians (only in basketball shoes, not high heels)

---

If they lower the price, bunch of kids going to buy the BBB shoe, most just for the novelty of it.

Here is how bad it is:

This morning I was in Chinggis Khan Airport in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia after spending a few days in Gobi Desert (yes, way out of beaten path).

The big screen TV in the boarding area was showing some basketball game (turned out to be an NBA Summer League game from Vegas). All of sudden, there is a a blown up picture of LonZo (sp?) Ball filling up the whole screen with his name for about 10 seconds (could not hear what was being said) before resuming game broadcast.

Yes, the publicity machine reaches all corners of the world.

Go Bears!

P.S. On the positive side, I saw two locals wearing Cal caps while I was visiting the monastery in Ulaan Baatar yesterday.

The thing I remember most about that game was how badly Webber did not want the ball in crunch time with it all on the line. Huge choke job.

OneKeg;842853663 said:

---

[URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NBA_Playoffs#.281.29_Sacramento_Kings_vs._.283.29_Los_Angeles_Lakers"][U]Google is your friend[/U][/URL]! :p

Don't really know if it was fixed, though it did seem fishy at the time. I'm neither a Kings nor a Lakers fan so I have no stake.

---

Ball has great court vision and excellent touch on his passes. I think he will have a hard time creating his own shot because he's not real quick and he's not strong, and his shot is slow. He hasn't seen an NBA defense yet, so the summer league stuff is interesting but not very relevant. Anthony Randolph tore up summer league, just to give you one example.

HoopDreams;842853443 said:

---

I predicted about mid-college-season that Ball would take UCLA to the National Championship game.
I considered him the best passer since Jason Kidd, and a better shooter, plus 6-6.

I figured his passing will make him a great NBA point, but wasn't sure about his shooting mostly due to his ugly shooting form.

His debut game showed his passing, but seemed to validate my concern for his shooting. I thought his ugly form meant he needed more space to get his shot off, and that with the farther NBA line, it would greatly impact his long range shooting form.

well after 3 summer league games, he does appear to be an elite passer, and his deep range is questionable, but overall I'd say this early look validates that he has the potential to be a NBA all-star.

of course it's against rookies, only 3 games, and basically a glorified pick up game, plus nba coaches haven't studied his tendencies and game planned against him.

regardless, the hype machine has already launched with lots of fuel to burn

---

HoopDreams;842854051 said:

---

I guess Ball is bidding up his endorsement deal with one of the big shoe companies
He's now worn his own brand shoe, nike, adidas and UA, and his dad said he is open to a contract at the right price
also the middle brother just got a new Ferrari

meet the new kardasians (only in basketball shoes, not high heels)

---

Lol
The Ball family better hope that Lonzo can bring it on the court, because if not I have a feeling a whole lotta grown men gonna be whoopin' his ass hard.

gobears725;842853878 said:

---

It's entertaining, although the 4 day tour was overkill and turned into WWE. I made the comparison because its smart marketing, Mayweather in particular has profited greatly since he made himself into the "villain", no different than what Lavar is doing.

---

Ya know, I think you're into something there!
How about a villain on villain duel, Mayweather vs Ball, to the death?!!!

calbear80;842854425 said:

---

Here is how bad it is:

This morning I was in Chinggis Khan Airport in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia after spending a few days in Gobi Desert (yes, way out of beaten path).

The big screen TV in the boarding area was showing some basketball game (turned out to be an NBA Summer League game from Vegas). All of sudden, there is a a blown up picture of LonZo (sp?) Ball filling up the whole screen with his name for about 10 seconds (could not hear what was being said) before resuming game broadcast.

Yes, the publicity machine reaches all corners of the world.

Go Bears!

P.S. On the positive side, I saw two locals wearing Cal caps while I was visiting the monastery in Ulaan Baatar yesterday.

---

Wow!
Can you post a photo?
That's the boonies, bro!

bluesaxe;842854437 said:

---

The thing I remember most about that game was how badly Webber did not want the ball in crunch time with it all on the line. Huge choke job.

---

Actually, that was smart team ball on his part. It would have made no sense for the Kings to call a timeout at that time.

calbear80;842854425 said:

---

Here is how bad it is:

This morning I was in Chinggis Khan Airport in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia after spending a few days in Gobi Desert (yes, way out of beaten path).

The big screen TV in the boarding area was showing some basketball game (turned out to be an NBA Summer League game from Vegas). All of sudden, there is a a blown up picture of LonZo (sp?) Ball filling up the whole screen with his name for about 10 seconds (could not hear what was being said) before resuming game broadcast.

Yes, the publicity machine reaches all corners of the world.

Go Bears!

P.S. On the positive side, I saw two locals wearing Cal caps while I was visiting the monastery in Ulaan Baatar yesterday.

---

Your Gobi trek :
What were the temps ?
Logistics of travel?
Cell phone signal?

I've watched video of him in HS and saw some of his college games, plus some of his summer league games or highlights.

hard to say much about HS since most D1 bound players dominate their HS games, but what I saw was chino hills took 'run and gun' to a whole new level. That type of fast break, speed game probably helped his development.

in college it was clear he was a special passer with Kidd-like vision. That translates to the NBA. He breaks down defenses with his penetration and can finish or pass. He even rebounds well for a PG.

the NBA apparently agreed by taking him #2, and the central figure in that decision was Magic Johnson. Seems like Magic knows something about playing PG.

Ball averaged 9.5 assists and won the summer league mvp (although other top players didn't finish summer league). In his last game, he had 10 assists in the first half alone before sitting out the rest of the game.

Although shooting is the biggest question, he shot it well in college (certainly better than Kidd). But after Ball's first nba summer league game, I also doubted his ugly shooting form and felt it required too much space to get off in the nba. However after first game, his shooting was better (although not great). I think that's enough and will get better.

I predicted ucla would make the Finals and was wrong. Now I'm predicting Ball is a future NBA All-Star.

bluesaxe;842854438 said:

---

Ball has great court vision and excellent touch on his passes. I think he will have a hard time creating his own shot because he's not real quick and he's not strong, and his shot is slow. He hasn't seen an NBA defense yet, so the summer league stuff is interesting but not very relevant. Anthony Randolph tore up summer league, just to give you one example.

---

HoopDreams;842854640 said:

---

I've watched video of him in HS and saw some of his college games, plus some of his summer league games or highlights.

hard to say much about HS since most D1 bound players dominate their HS games, but what I saw was chino hills took 'run and gun' to a whole new level. That type of fast break, speed game probably helped his development.

in college it was clear he was a special passer with Kidd-like vision. That translates to the NBA. He breaks down defenses with his penetration and can finish or pass. He even rebounds well for a PG.

the NBA apparently agreed by taking him #2, and the central figure in that decision was Magic Johnson. Seems like Magic knows something about playing PG.

Ball averaged 9.5 assists and won the summer league mvp (although other top players didn't finish summer league). In his last game, he had 10 assists in the first half alone before sitting out the rest of the game.

Although shooting is the biggest question, he shot it well in college (certainly better than Kidd). But after Ball's first nba summer league game, I also doubted his ugly shooting form and felt it required too much space to get off in the nba. However after first game, his shooting was better (although not great). I think that's enough and will get better.

I predicted ucla would make the Finals and was wrong. Now I'm predicting Ball is a future NBA All-Star.

---

Going to be tough to be an all star in the west. Is he going to better than Curry, Westbrook, Lilliard or CP3? I'm not so sure about that. At least for awhile, he's not better than Conley either. I think he's going to be a good player but I think people got to pump the brakes a little. Just because the dad hypes him up doesnt mean people have to buy the hype.

I don't mean this year ... not sure when

also the nba knows it's in the entertainment business. They need stars that draw in fans, especially younger fans, and there isn't any young basketball player who is not talking about Ball right now.

gobears725;842854805 said:

---

Going to be tough to be an all star in the west. Is he going to better than Curry, Westbrook, Lilliard or CP3? I'm not so sure about that. At least for awhile, he's not better than Conley either. I think he's going to be a good player but I think people got to pump the brakes a little. Just because the dad hypes him up doesnt mean people have to buy the hype.

---

What I saw in a couple of summer league games was him being unable to break down defenses with penetration because he wasn't quick enough off the dribble, and his handles aren't that good. He obviously can tighten up the handle and needs to, but not getting by guys at that level suggests he's going to have some issues with it in the NBA, especially since he's fairly show getting his own shot off. And he is a poor defender. Kidd comparisons are off the mark imo, except for his passing/vision. He's not as quick, not as strong, and not as good with the ball. He's also very young and may well develop into a star level player but I don't see it as a given at all.

HoopDreams;842854640 said:

---

I've watched video of him in HS and saw some of his college games, plus some of his summer league games or highlights.

hard to say much about HS since most D1 bound players dominate their HS games, but what I saw was chino hills took 'run and gun' to a whole new level. That type of fast break, speed game probably helped his development.

in college it was clear he was a special passer with Kidd-like vision. That translates to the NBA. He breaks down defenses with his penetration and can finish or pass. He even rebounds well for a PG.

the NBA apparently agreed by taking him #2, and the central figure in that decision was Magic Johnson. Seems like Magic knows something about playing PG.

Ball averaged 9.5 assists and won the summer league mvp (although other top players didn't finish summer league). In his last game, he had 10 assists in the first half alone before sitting out the rest of the game.

Although shooting is the biggest question, he shot it well in college (certainly better than Kidd). But after Ball's first nba summer league game, I also doubted his ugly shooting form and felt it required too much space to get off in the nba. However after first game, his shooting was better (although not great). I think that's enough and will get better.

I predicted ucla would make the Finals and was wrong. Now I'm predicting Ball is a future NBA All-Star.

---

I'm talking about most of the fourth quarter.

concordtom;842854452 said:

---

Actually, that was smart team ball on his part. It would have made no sense for the Kings to call a timeout at that time.

---

HoopDreams;842854830 said:

---

I don't mean this year ... not sure when

also the nba knows it's in the entertainment business. They need stars that draw in fans, especially younger fans, and there isn't any young basketball player who is not talking about Ball right now.

---

well all star voting is determined a lot by fan voting. fwiw, I like him as a player. His passing is pretty special, but he has clear weaknesses with his shot and his defense(something J Kidd excelled at btw at that age). I think its going to take him a little while especially his defense because I think a lot of that just depends on him getting stronger which will probably take 2-3 years.

Big C_Cal;842853853 said:

---

I got no problem with Lonzo Ball. In fact, I'm looking forward to watching his time in the NBA: He seems like the closest thing to the next Jason Kidd. Whatever his dad says or does is of little interest to me. And, though I am a long-time Warriors fan, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more challenge from the Southland... stir things up a little. If Lonzo is for real, top free agents will be lined up to play for the Lakers and to score off of his passes.

---

I like Lonzo, too. He's clearly very, very good. Whether he'll be NBA elite level in his rookie season is another matter, but the potential is there. He also seems like a decent, likeable guy. His dad is annoying, but what better place than the LA media market to have Papa Ball shooting his big mouth? Walton started the turnaround last season, though it wasn't easy to see in the W-L numbers. The Lakers will be much improved this year and I'd expect a lot of free agents to jump on board for the 18-19 season.