Despite facing what will be only his fifth season in the NBA, Lonzo Ball has gone through too many contexts that have forced him to vary his game significantly. The Lakers chose him in the third position of the 2017 draft to be the base of the future of the franchise. Role he played until a certain LeBron James made him emphasize his skills as a defensive specialist and manager in transition. Once in New Orleans, Jrue Holiday’s presence pushed him back to being a part-time organizer. And when it seemed that he would have a free hand to serve as a de facto point guard, the role that Van Gundy gave to Zion Williamson pushed him into his most constrained season of execution.
Versatility is one of Lonzo Ball’s most valuable traits, capable of being efficient in countless offensive contexts. But his signing for the Chicago Bulls suggests that he will be the team’s main point guard, and himself is looking forward to it. “It seems that this year I am going to be a more traditional point guard and I am comfortable with it,” said the player after making it clear that he will always be committed to the role that the coach designates. Ball’s words must have been music to Zach LaVine’s ears. The All-Star has repeated countless times that he sees an immediate fit with Ball, in part because one of the Bulls’ goals was for their star to stop absorbing a creative weight that was beginning to drown him.
The coexistence of LaVine, Lonzo and a DeRozan more distributor than ever left doubts about who was going to take more gallons in the creation of the game. But after listening to the oldest of the Balls, it seems that Billy Donovan has it clear. Lonzo will be your beacon in attack. “They just expect me to perfect the areas in which I already feel comfortable. So it was an easy decision for me.
(Cover photo by Sean Gardner / Getty Images)