2017 NBA Draft: Who did the Lakers draft according to NBA 2K17
By Jason Reed
In what seems to be the perfect fit heading into this year’s draft for any team, the Lakers selected UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball with the third overall selection. Ball is a local kid, having attended Chino Hills High School and UCLA. Despite his over reaching father and any question marks that he brings up, Ball seems to be the perfect selection for the Lakers this season.
The Lakers need a natural born leader, and while D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram have limitless potential, they are not the leader that Ball is. Running the point Lonzo Ball was able to turn UCLA into legitimate title contenders, and if they weren’t paired against Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen they could have easily made it further.
Ball thrived in college, proving his worth as a leader on the court. Averaging 14.6 points, 7.6 steals, and 6.0 rebounds Balls showed that he can excel in multiple outlets of the game. Bring in NBA talent around in a much faster-paced game and it isn’t crazy to think that Lonzo can average those number his rookie year, only getting better.
His father Lavar Ball has already made it apparent that he wants to see Lonzo grace the purple and gold. Taking Lonzo would permanently shift D’Angelo Russell over to shooting guard, giving the Lakers a young dynamic back court.