Los Angeles Lakers high-flyer Larry Nance Jr. looks forward to playing alongside former UCLA Bruins star Lonzo Ball — he is a big fan of the 19-year-old's game-style.
The Lakers improved their backcourt this past Thursday, selecting guard Ball at number two in the 2017 NBA draft. Ball, a 6 ft 6 in point guard is one of the most intriguing guards in recent years due to his passing skills, court vision, quickness, and explosiveness. The UCLA product has been compared to Jason Kidd, the former NBA champion and one of the best players to play that position ever.
The Los Angeles-based franchise is hoping to implement a high-pace basketball system, something similar to the one played by the mighty Golden State Warriors. Lakers head coach Luke Walton has the knowledge about the run-and-gun style of basketball, having spent some time working as an assistant in Golden State before taking the job in Los Angeles last year.
Ball's game-style, fits perfectly with the idea of what NBA teams want to have in a guard. As the game is shifting towards more athletic players at that position, this should give the Lakers a chance to succeed in their goal.
''I’m excited for it,” Nance told Alex Kennedy during his podcast with The HoopsHype, as transcribed by Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation.
“Obviously like you said, he’s a pass-first guy, he’s got great court vision, and he’s a facilitator so obviously, that benefits the guys that are on the court with him.''
Nance Jr. has a reason to be excited
24-year-old Larry Nance Jr. is not the Los Angeles Lakers' primary option on the offensive end, but rather someone who does a bit of everything on the court.
The 6 ft 9 in forward loves to catch defenders sleeping and sneak up behind their backs for an alley-oop dunk or an easy lay-up. Nance Jr. could end up being one of the players who will benefit most from Lonzo Ball's already mentioned game-style.
''And my job specifically [is to] run the court, be athletic, just do all the little things,'' Nance Jr.
said, adding that it's ''great'' for him as Ball is going to ''have the ball in the air for me'' on his backdoor slips.
The excitement is real
Larry Nance Jr. is as eager as anyone to team up with Lonzo Ball to receive some good passes from their new point guard and throw down some attractive dunks. Guard Ball has experience as he was throwing passes to current Indiana Pacer TJ Leaf, with whom he was a teammate at UCLA last season. Nance Jr. said if Ball was throwing lobs to Leaf last year, he ''can't wait to see what he does for me.''
