Los Angeles Lakers: Best quotes from media day and what they mean
By Jason Reed
1. Kyle Kuzma on Lonzo Ball’s physique
-
“His (Lonzo) upper body is built like a brick wall now. It’s very impressive to see his dedication.”
For those that did not see pictures of Lonzo Ball at the Los Angeles Lakers media day, he has a much more impressive physique than he did as a rookie last season. Ball went from a relatively thin teenager with some muscle mass and put bulk on to make him up to par with the rest of the league.
This new figure has also led to a jump shot that looks much more natural than the funky release that he brought into the league last season.
What once was a point of criticism for Ball now looks to potentially be a strong suit for the sophomore guard. Even Magic Johnson said that his jumper is beautiful, which will naturally lead to a better shooting percentage from the field.
This is huge for Ball, who is going to be used as a spot up shooter and a transition shooter with LeBron James on the team. While he will still get a fair share of the basketball, James will be the primary ballhandler that runs the offense and brings it up the court.
Having a good jumper only adds another tool to the arsenal. Having the ability to thread the needle on passes, drive and kick, rebound and defend was not good enough for Ball. Now, with some added muscle, his jumper will improve.