I’ve never been as conflicted in evaluating a player’s talent as I have been in watching Lonzo Ball play the game of basketball. He’s so innately skilled, yet has glaring holes in his game that provide an uncannily awkward mix of surefire talent and questionable NBA fit moving forward. He’s as polarizing as any figure you’ll find in regards to te draft, and one who — despite his admittedly stellar play this season — I’m not ready to buy into 100 percent.
Offensively, Ball’s strength’s have been well-covered throughout the season. He’s a gifted playmaker above all else, and carries looming star potential based solely on his passing touch alone — an incredible rarity considering the direction in which this league is heading. At 6-6 with a wingpsaspan a few inchees beyond that, Ball’s physical tools are obvious. He has tremendous size for the point guard spot, uses it to his utmost advantage when making reads and gunning the ball through tight windows that otherwise might not be attainable.
Ball has completely revolutionized UCLA’s offensive system ths season, transforming it almost single-handedly into the most pass-happy, explosive offensive juggernaut in college basketball. For a freshman to be able to do something of that magnitude is extremely impressive. His outlet passes in transition are memorizing, and his basketball I.Q. when handling the ball is among the highest we’ve seen in years coming out of the draft. Creating offense for others won’t be a problem, and gives him a more-than-solid floor at the next level. It’s what he can do outside of that, though, that limits my praise just a bit.
Lonzo doesn’t score the ball at a level high enough for me to comfortable with his offensive game translating fully to the next level. His long, slingshot-esque jumper takes far too long to get off, which limits any sort of reliable mid-range game against NBA defenses, while also making some of his isolation 3-point scores a bit more difficult to project. He struggles to transfer from his dribble to his jump shot in a fluid motion, and that’s a major hindrance for somebody who needs to keep the defense honest when probing the exterior.
Previous Ranking: 7
Notice how long it takes him to get into his shooting motion. He brings the ball down first, and that’s a rough habit to continue against more athletic, well-trained defensive opposition.
That lack of a fluid jumper also limits what he can do in the pick-and-roll, while the remainder of his offensive game is often inconsistent in the halfcourt setup as well. He doesn’t get enough dribble penetration at times, and lacks the general scoring prowess at all levels that other elite point guards (such as Dennis Smith and Markelle Fultz) possess.
With that said, he does have the arsenal needed to make it work offensively. He makes smart cuts off the ball and is a strong enough spot-up shooter from deep to function effectively in that capacity. He does a tremendous job of keeping the ball flowing within the offense, and should continue to do so at the next level.
If a team is able to surround Ball with ample shooting and allow him to push the pace in transition, there’s plenty of room for him to excel in an NBA offense. Jason Kidd has been the comparison of choice, but Steve Nash may be an even better comparison in terms of which offensive philosophy he would excel most in. Getting up and down the court and moving the basketball for open shots is Ball’s specialty — and that’s how he’ll succeed at the next level, if managed correctly.