Promising Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball has revealed his two main offseason priorities will be improving fitness and getting stronger.
The second overall pick of this year's NBA draft is in the period of transition from college to a much-more-demanding NBA level basketball. The former UCLA Bruin is set to go head-to-head with physically dominant and exceptionally prepared NBA players night in and night out.
Ball's conditioning level could heavily affect his rookie campaign as the 19-year-old prefers to push the pace and run whenever he can.
Besides the offensive part, the UCLA product will have tasks on the defensive end as well.
''Just conditioning and strength. I think if I work on those two things I'll be fine,'' Ball told Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet.
The team made the final call
Lonzo Ball, 19, wanted to play against the Sacramento Kings on Monday but the Los Angeles Lakers didn't let him do so.
The former UCLA Bruin was forced to miss Monday's NBA Las Vegas Summer League game due to a groin injury, it was announced. Though not seriously injured, the Los Angeles-based franchise wanted to risk nothing with their promising guard.
Previously, fellow Ball's teammate and rising star Brandon Ingram was shut down for the rest of the competition after Friday's opening game against city rivals Los Angeles Clippers.
Ball could still suit up for the Lakers in one of the upcoming games in Las Vegas.
''I definitely wanted to play,'' Ball said. ''But the staff felt it was better for me to sit this one out. It's just Summer League...being precautious. Just day-to-day.''
Bounced back successfully
Heavily talented Lonzo Ball went from bad to great in his first two Summer League matches.
Ball started off his campaign by collecting five points on terrible 2-of-15 shooting from the field against the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday. The UCLA product was quick to make amends for his catastrophic performance, achieving a triple-double performance against arch rivals Boston Celtics the day after.
The Lakers fell short to the Clippers and Celtics before they earned a win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
''First game was little shaky. But the second game definitely was a lot better,'' Ball said. ''Now I just want to get some wins on the board.''
Drawing positives
Guard Lonzo Ball says the Summer League helps the guys to get more known and better with each other.
The Los Angeles Lakers' roster for the competition consists mostly of rookies and second-year players. The young guns are eager to prove themselves to the Lakers' front office as some of the guys don't have a guaranteed spot on the actual roster. Except for the younger ones, there are also some undrafted and NBA G League players who have the same goal.
''The Summer League helps a lot. It's the first time we can play together and just build that chemistry,'' Ball said.
