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Lakers Rumors: Seven things to expect during the 2017-18 season

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Lakers Rumors
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Lakers Rumors /

Lonzo Ball will win the Rookie of the Year in convincing fashion

The NBA landscape is very hit and miss when it comes to Lonzo Ball. Most Lakers fan love him, some dislike him because of his outlandish father and the rest of the NBA seemingly wants to see him fall flat on his face.

For awhile, it seemed like Laker fans didn’t even want Ball in Los Angeles. That was, of course, until he dropped the only two NBA Summer League triple-doubles within the last decade. Josh Eberley of HOOP  sums up the reception around Lonzo Ball perfectly:

https://twitter.com/JoshEberley/status/890612016620093441

However, despite this mixed reaction to the nineteen-year-old point guard, there should not be a doubt in anybody’s mind that Ball will walk away with the Rookie of the Year award. He does have some very strong competition in Markelle Fultz, Jayson Tatum and Josh Jackson; but this is Lonzo’s time.

Ball’s playmaking ability will easily see him flirt with the ten assists per game mark, likely average around 10-12 points per game. A realistic stat line to expect would be 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists out of the rookie.

If you compare that to Malcolm Brogdon, who was last season’s Rookie of the Year, Ball seems all the more impressive. Brogdon averaged just 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

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