Lakers: Where do Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma rank among the top 10 rookies?

3. Lonzo Ball

• 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.9 blocks, 1.6 steals

I would argue that the one thing that has made Lonzo Ball the better rookie than Kyle Kuzma this season is how much better Ball makes Kuzma. Ball and Kuzma have this immense chemistry and it shows on the court. When Lonzo Ball is playing, Kyle Kuzma is at his best. It showed in the Summer League and the Preseason when the two primarily shared the court together.

When Ball missed time with an MCL injury, Kuzma’s numbers took a dip. While it was not a concerning dip, it was obvious that he simply was not as good without his rookie teammate. Since Ball has returned, Kuzma has been better.

And that has been what has made Lonzo Ball so special. Yeah, his scoring is just now turning the corner and this three-point shot is just now hitting. In November, we were all questioning his shot. Sure, he has a father that is outlandish and may paint a negative image of him. Something the fans care about more than NBA executives.

What you cannot deny about Lonzo Ball is the immediate impact he has had on the Lakers. The culture that he has single-handedly changed; the pass-first mantra, the “let’s get the entire team involved” attitude.

He is an elite rebounder for a guard, is a great distributor and can give you ten points a game. In five years, Ball is going to be ripping off triple-doubles left and right. It may not be a Russell Westbrook 40-point triple-double, but a solid 11, 13 and 12 will be a night at the office for Ball.

Statistically, you can argue that Ball should be in the 8-10 range. However, his all-around impact, on offense and defense, has changed the Los Angeles Lakers for the better.