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Lonzo Ball profile
Drafted #2 in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers
RCSI: 5 (2016)
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
Position: PG
High School: Chino Hills High School (California)
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
AAU: Team QJZ
College: UCLA
Current Team: Bulls
Win - Loss: 34 - 35
Lonzo Ball 2017 NBA Draft Scouting Video - Strengths

Articles

Breaking Down the 2017 NBA Draft's Loaded Guard Crop

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Jun 22, 2017, 11:50 am
Ball is a five-tool guard who some scouts believe compares favorably with Jason Kidd, while others see him as more of a 6-6 Ricky Rubio. The truth is probably somewhere in between. He's as instinctual of a basketball player as we've seen in quite some time, and is going to be a longtime building block in any situation, but his fit is particularly important given his unique game and clear-cut set of strengths and weaknesses.
 
Ball isn't a great ball screen scorer or facilitator (10.2% of his offense at UCLA), he doesn't have breakdown wiggle, and he's had issues handling aggressive ball pressure in the past. Simply put, he needs to be next to another guard who can score and playmake in pick and roll, especially late in games when his transition magic isn't an option and ball screens are king.
 

 
D'Angelo Russell may have been an excellent fit on the offensive end, but the Lakers shipped him, along with Timofey Mozgov, to Brooklyn, to free cap space for their pursuit of Paul George and potentially LeBron James.   
 
So Ball will have the keys to one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA, and while Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson will be able to take some heat off the Chino Hills native in the backcourt, there may be some growing pains in the interim, as LA doesn't have much spacing from its bigs, a key ingredient to Ball's success at UCLA. Expiring contract Brook Lopez does at least give the Lakers a stretch five, and a solid pairing next to Julius Randle, but Lonzo is best with space, so finding more (along with shooting improvement from Ingram) floor spacers will be key moving forward.
 
If the Lakers are able to get George in Purple and Gold as early as next season, Ball is an excellent fit next to a high-level shot creator, as he's very comfortable off ball as a spot shooter, cutter and attacker on the catch. Overall it's easy to nitpick Lonzo's game, but he's a ball mover' who plays an infectious brand of basketball, and if he shares the floor with Ingram, Randle, George and even a Larry Nance to a lesser degree, Luke Walton will have a versatile lineup full of five guys who can pass and handle, with relative respect to their position. The Lakers need more shooting at the big spots to fully reap the benefits of Ball's style, but given his unselfishness and likely propensity to get teammates paid, he should be able to play a role in bringing free agents back to LA. The Chino Hills native coming home is more than just a feel-good story, it's a very good fit for both parties.

How Does Lonzo Ball Compare With Jason Kidd?

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Jun 07, 2017, 03:53 pm
Lonzo Ball isn't the next Jason Kidd
 
Very few players are the next, [insert former NBA hall of famer here]. One to one player comparisons have become passé in NBA circles, and evaluating prospects from different eras on the same scale is often a pointless exercise. 
 
In the case of Ball and Kidd, a lot has changed between 1993 and 2017. During that 24-year-window, basketball has evolved. Players are longer, stronger, faster, and more explosive. Power forwards are centers, small forwards are power forwards, and there isn't much distinction anymore between point guards and shooting guards, or shooting guards and small forwards. Three-pointers and dunks are king, and fast-paced, pick and roll heavy basketball is the vehicle driving 100-point scoring nights and sell-out crowds.
 
Simply put, the Pac-10 that Kidd sliced up on his way to Conference (and National) Freshman of the Year is different than the Pac-12 that Ball led UCLA through one frozen-rope outlet pass and cross body step back three at a time.
 
Ball's Bruins finished second in the NCAA in scoring at 89.8 points per game, topping the century mark nine times, while hoisting 24.2 threes per game. On the flip side, Kidd's Golden Bears took only 14.5 3-pointers per game (at a 31.1% clip), and reached 100 points once, pasting 102 points on the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion, nonetheless. While Kidd loved to push tempo in his own right, the pace wasn't nearly as break-neck in 1993, ball screens weren't as prevalent, post ups were highly en vogue, and the level of athleticism simply wasn't what it is today.
 

 
Eras aside, Kidd and Ball are no carbon copy.
 
At 6' 4, 215 pounds, Kidd was a physical, quick, hard-playing athlete (especially relative to the level of athlete in 1993) who lived at the free throw line, played above the rim in transition, loved to throw his weight around on both ends, and made a living as a menace in the passing lanes to the tune of an outrageous 4.8 steals per 40 minutes. A near-non-shooter (as a freshman) who liked to operate out of the post in the half court, and play inside the arc with regularity, Kidd was much more of a live in the paint, put pressure on the rim' point guard than Ball, who took 1.4 more threes than twos per 40 minutes and is much more fluid and rangy' than thunder and lightning'.
 
Kidd was a feisty competitor who led a #6-seeded Cal team featuring Lamond Murray and 12 others who never stepped foot on an NBA floor to the Sweet 16, including a remarkable victory over Duke's Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill and Coach K. Conversely, Ball turned around a floundering UCLA program as a 19-year-old, but was surrounded by at least two first round picks in TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu and, while spectacular the majority of the year, did have some trouble getting out of second gear at times, which was never more apparent than during the Bruins' NCAA Tournament loss to Kentucky.
 
With all of that said, and with all the precautions in place, it's hard to ignore some of the similarities between Kidd and Ball. Both born in California, Pac-12 Freshmen of the Year, big point guards with game-changing transition play, a pass-first mindset, elite basketball instincts and a special confidence about them, the parallels are striking enough to further explore.
 
The eras are different and saying Ball is the next Kidd would be unfair to both parties, but is it reasonable to say that Lonzo Ball may be a modern basketball version of Jason Kidd to some degree? If Jason Kidd were to grow up during an era where three balls are celebrated and pace-and-space style is the norm, would he look more like Ball, launching pull up threes in transition and killing pick and roll switches with deep step backs?
 
One of the more unique prospects in recent memory, Ball's basketball instincts, unselfishness, open court electricity, and non-pick and roll reliance style of play mirror Kidd in a lot of ways. For all of their differences, they have some similarities in terms of strengths and weaknesses, which led us to breaking down several different aspects of their games with an eye toward how Ball will project at the NBA level.
 
(Keep inmind that 1992-93 Cal film isn't all that easy to find, and since Synergy didn't exist back then, watching every Jason Kidd pick and roll possession that year is impossible. We did the best we could to watch a handful of full games to get a better idea of what type of player Kidd was as a freshman and how it compared to Ball, with the differences in era considered.)PHYSICAL PROFILE
 

 Most casual NBA fans probably remember post-knee surgery Jason Kidd, a strong, below the rim point guard who got by on smarts, timing, instincts and strength. But 19-year-old Jason Kidd was an athlete, especially relative to your typical point guard in 1993. With tremendous open court speed, a quick first step, and explosive one-foot bounce with a head of steam, Kidd was regularly playing above the rim in transition, and when coupled with his 215-pound frame at 6' 4, the San Francisco native was a nightmare for collegiate guards to keep in front. Kidd lived at the free throw line (6.1 attempts per 40 minutes in NCAA play), and used his strong legs to change directions, play low and keep his balance through contact. He did a tremendous job taking hits at the rim thanks to his barrel-chested frame. Not overly long relative to his height, Kidd's extension around the rim was just okay, evident by his lifetime 43.4 2P% on over 10,000 career attempts.
 
Ball, on the other hand, is a more fluid athlete at 6'6. He's light and wiry (190 pounds, unofficial) with thin legs, a longer stride, and very impressive open court speed in his own right. While not as powerful of an athlete, with a 6'8.5 wingspan and above average open court bounce, Ball is a lob target and very capable of playing above the rim in space. He's not nearly as thick as Kidd, however, as he prefers finesse over physicality and rarely got to the free throw line in college (3.1 times per 40 minutes).
 
Where Kidd really differs from Ball is in his ability to operate from the low block, something that translated well to the NBA game during his time in the league. Kidd was able to use his strong base to establish position versus virtually every college guard, and after the catch used his size and strength to get to the front of the rim or free throw line, or set up a teammate after commanding a double team. On the flip side, post-ups made up 0.8 percent of Ball's total possessions, as he lacks the strength and physicality to punish opposing point guards.
 
Different style of athletes, Kidd and Ball are similar in the rebounding department (6.2 per 40 for Kidd, 6.8 per 40 for Ball), as their size, quickness and instincts make/made them plus rebounders at the point guard spot. Kidd proved to be one of the best point guard rebounders in the NBA for stretches (7.0 per 40 in the NBA on his career), and Ball figures to have similar production in that area.TRANSITION PLAY
 

 Where the Kidd and Ball similarities really shine through is in transition. Kidd loved to push tempo as he constantly put pressure on the rim, and was as creative of an open floor passer as college basketball had seen since Magic Johnson, whom both Kidd and Ball cited as a player they modeled their game after. His open-floor speed brought a level of electricity to the game, and his fearlessness putting pressure on th rim caused opponents to retreat frantically on every change of possession.
 
Ball generates a similar energy when he grabs a defensive board and ignites the break with his dribble. He has excellent open court speed once he gets going, and while not the most physical finisher, his long strides and slight change of speeds make him tough to track in the open floor (transition made up 30% of his offensive possessions last season). Like Kidd, Ball thrives in transition and loves to get others involved in the open floor, but his approach is a bit different.
 
Kidd, while an excellent outlet passer who would move it ahead if there was an opportunity, was best pushing coast to coast, grabbing a rebound, using his speed and finding shooters, lane-fillers or rim runners with perfectly-timed no-look passes using either hand. Ball, on the other hand, loves to hit ahead immediately. It certainly depends on how the defense is retreating, but Ball's willingness to not only throw long baseball passes to teammates down court, but also give it up to teammates who aren't even in a scoring zone made passing contagious. He empowered teammates by giving it up quickly, and one simple pass quickly led to five in a row and a wide open three, leaving defenses spinning. It was these basic passes that often went unnoticed, but were the backbone behind a UCLA offense that finished third in two-point percentage, fourth in three-point percentage, first in assists, and second in points per game.
 
As was often the case with Kidd, the ball never sticks with Lonzo, and his transition impact was even felt when he wasn't the primary ball handler, as he would regularly sprint the wing, catch in stride and instantly rifle a one-handed cross court pass to a shooter in rhythm. Kidd, on the other hand, was best with the ball in his hands, pushing until the defense played him and using his creativity and vision to set up teammates in highlight fashion. Both point guards incentivized their teammates, but in slightly different ways.
 
Then there's the shooting element. Ball loves to catch the defense sleeping by pulling up from 28 feet in transition or early offense situations. He scored 1.05 points per possession (73rd percentile) as the transition ball handler, and a lot of those buckets were of the deep ball variety. He's often too willing to casually stroll up floor at half speed only to jack up a contested three from well-beyond NBA three, but the deflating nature of this shot that we often see from NBA greats like Steph Curry is a lethal weapon in today's game, and the fact that he's a threat off the catch as well makes him even more dynamic.
 
This is where Kidd differs. He wasn't much of a three-point threat as a freshman, and his open floor plans were more centered around shots at the rim, short leaners or finding teammates. More than anywhere else, the 24-year-gap between Kidd and Ball's freshman seasons is most apparent in their transition shot selection.
 
Lastly, Kidd and Ball also have some differences in the way they handled heavy-ball pressure. While Kidd was more turnover prone than Ball (1.96 assist to turnover ratio for Kidd and 3.11 assist to turnover ratio for Ball), he looked more comfortable handling heavy ball pressure in the back court at the same stage. A risky passer, Kidd's turnovers were more bravado based, while Ball has a tendency to defer a bit too much, and has looked a little uncomfortable with defenders crawling into his air space both at the college, and high school level. He's always relied on constant ball movement, and quick outlets, which reared its ugly head at times during the college season. Kidd, on the flip side, was able to keep his defender on his hip, use his strength to shield the ball, speed to the ball over half court, and size to see over the top and move it. Ball has the size to pass over the top and the IQ read the defense, and while very few starting NBA point guards are willing to pick up 94 feet, this is an area where Ball still has room for growth.HALF COURT PLAYMAKING

 
 The essence of Ball and Kidd's half court genius is similar - the beauty lies in the attention to detail and the basic play'.  While Kidd was still more flashy and creative, it's the accuracy, timing and force behind every simple pass' that made them so special. Whether it was a one-handed on the money bullet to Lamond Murray, Bryce Alford sprinting off a screen, or a perfectly-timed lob pass to T.J. Leaf or Brian Hendrick, the accuracy at which both players deliver/delivered the ball is a huge part of what makes them so special. They find open teammates before the play is even there, recognize switches, attack mismatches, and manage the game at an elite level.
 
They were also fairly similar in that neither relied on too heavy of a dose of pick and roll in the half court. It was hard to get too accurate of a feel for Kidd's pick and roll game at that stage because it simply wasn't emphasized as often, but it was clear that Kidd did have impressive timing and vision, and was regularly able to see over the top, hit the pop man or opposite shooter and handle blitzes with poise. Like Ball, he wasn't seen snaking ball screens or keeping his man on his back with all that much regularity as we see some of the greats like Chris Paul do today. 
 
Although pick and roll possessions only made up 10.2% of his offense (very low for a point guard), Ball showed he has the vision, timing, accuracy, and overall foundation to eventually make every read necessary at the NBA level. He can hit the weakside shooter circling up, find the roller with lobs, or use his strides to get into the paint and locate shooters. He can add more pick and roll savvy, however, which is apparent by his 37% turnover rate out of pick and roll possessions. He doesn't put defenders in jail', which is partially a function of his lacking mid-range threat (eight inside arc jumpers taken all year), and can get better at stringing out the big, probing and playmaking from there.
 
Kidd was much more reliant on getting into the teeth of the defense than Ball. His combination of strength and quickness (along with his ability to post up) allowed him to get into the paint at the collegiate level, and although a bit turnover happy at times, he had an excellent feel for finding shooters, cutters, or bigs in the dunker spot. The floor wasn't nearly as spaced as it is today, however, and Kidd's lack of a consistent shooting threat did shrink the court at times, taking away driving lanes. Kidd, like most guards during that era, wasn't full of the traditional Kyrie Irving like breakdown moves that we see today. Leaning more on change of direction than shifting gears, he used hard in and outs and basic crossovers, along with his strength, to get into the lane and create for others.
 
Ball, although a different style of athlete and body type, has a somewhat similar ball-handling package, featuring a very strong handle that isn't loaded with advanced combo moves. Ball had a bit more trouble getting into the teeth of the defense at the college level, but has the size to see over the top and the timing and accuracy to pinpoint any shooter or big from virtually any distance. His lack of breakdown game did show up in isolation situations, but his ability to play off ball really helped mask that shortcoming. Because of his aptitude to spot shoot, Ball regularly played off of closeouts (something that Kidd didn't have at that stage), attacking scrambling defenders and finding teammates on the move. He also created buckets with his tremendous cutting ability, slicing into the teeth of the defense without the ball, catching on the move and whipping it to an open teammate for a bucket.
 
As is the case in transition, Ball did have his issues handlin heavy ball-pressure in the back court, however. Where Kidd was often able to use his strong frame and savvy to shield defenders and get into the offense, Ball deferred at times and has a bad habit of spotting up 35 feet from the rim, all but taking himself out of the play. His give-it-up-early style of play is certainly a major plus, but his struggles handling heavy ball pressure does suggest that he'll be best next to another guard who can play out of pick and roll and operate on the ball for stretches.
 
Overall, Kidd and Ball had fairly similar half court playmaking styles predicated on timing, accuracy, the simple play, and unselfishness, although Kidd was more capable of getting a piece of the paint. HALF COURT SCORING
 

 While a tremendously talented floor general, whether or not Kidd could score efficiently in the half court was definitely a question as he finished up his first season at Cal. He turned himself into a 36.2% three-point shooter as a sophomore, but his shooting limitations and reliance on power over elite wiggle hurt his scoring upside a bit, which ended up being a valid question as he averaged only 14.0 points per 40 minutes on 42.9% from two and 34.9% from three over his NBA career. Even his high free throw rate shrunk to 3.2 attempts per 40 minutes, something that often doesn't translate all that well from the college ranks. Knee injuries and some lost athleticism certainly played a role, as did his past-first nature, but Kidd never really developed into much of a half court scorer outside of the 2002-03 season with the Nets when he scored 20 points per 40 minutes.
 
Of course, Kidd's brilliance came in other areas - playmaking, transition play, defensive impact, to name a few - but he never really developed into a dynamic scorer type that's more important in lead guards in today's NBA than it was during Kidd's career.
 
At Cal, he did most of his damage inside the paint, using his strength and quicks to get into the lane, where he'd finish through contact or drop in short leaners off of two feet. Kidd also had a semblance of a mid-range game as he liked to rise up in short range spots and shoot at the peak of his jump. Aside from those weapons, however, Kidd didn't have much in terms of shot creation. As mentioned above, he was quick and powerful, but not crazy shifty with the ball and he didn't quite have the pull up range or comfortability to play off of step backs (to be fair, you didn't see anything near the level of off the dribble shot making that we see today at the college level during that era). He was caught between a set and jump shot fairly often, and opponents were able to play him to drive, keeping him in front at times in the half court. Kidd finished his freshman season scoring 16.4 points per 40 minutes on 53.7% from two and 28.6% from three, with 13.4 of his points coming from inside the arc and the free throw line.
 
While Ball has some similar shortcomings in that he's not the most shifty player of all time and doesn't have a ton of breakdown game, his ability to shoot off the catch and off the dribble (going left) give him quite a bit more scoring upside than Kidd in today's NBA. He's an average to slightly above average athlete at the NBA level and his lack of physicality and scoring savvy inside the arc was apparent all year, but the fact that he can punish a defense for going under a screen, shoot on the move, space the floor as a spot up guy, and add value as a cutter makes him very valuable.
 
If he shoots it at near a 40 percent clip in the NBA, with the variety of shots he can make playing both on and off the ball, he can play off of closeouts and constant movement, and use his shooting threat to get a piece of the paint that he wouldn't otherwise capture against a set defense out of pick and roll or isolation situations. He's likely never going to be a put pressure on the rim' type of guy in the half court, and his reliance on tough step back 30-footers is concerning give his history of streaky shooter.
 
This is the same player who didn't attempt a single shot in the gunner-heavy McDonald's All-American game, so he doesn't necessarily want to be a high volume scorer. His struggles with ball pressure and contact also figure to limit his half-court shot creation at the NBA level, and the fact that he's not a mid-range or floater threat, and struggles to shoot off the dribble going right, do limit him a bit in the half court. But Ball, who posted an impressive 67.8 true shooting percentage in 36 games as a freshman, has a higher ceiling as a half court scorer than Kidd due to his shot-making prowess given the league's emphasis on shooting.
 
Both Kidd and Ball prefer to facilitate rather than get buckets, but Ball is more likely to develop as a capable, efficient scorer than Kidd did as long as the jumper stays true.DEFENSE
 

 Aside from the shooting gap, the defensive side of the ball may be where Kidd and Ball differ the most. At 6'4, 215 pounds with elite instincts, quick/strong hands, and a relentless motor, Kidd was a monster defender both at the college and NBA level. He made the NBA All Defensive First or Second Team nine times, and averaged a ridiculous 4.8 steals per 40 minutes during his freshman season at Cal.
 
He was disruptive in the back court, willing to pick up 94 feet, and had the strong legs and quick feet to sit down and slide with any guard in the country. Opponents were unable to punish switches in the post, and Kidd's competitiveness and physicality shined through as a pick and roll defender and off the ball in tag situations. Kidd was truly a defensive genius with the tenacity to go along with it. He had all the tricks to bait opponents into steals in the backcourt, and his instincts and anticipation off the ball are some of the best in the history of college basketball. On top of that, Kidd was regularly seen diving into the stands for loose balls, or chasing down 50-50 balls. He wasn't crazy long relative to his height, and he's not the rangiest defender in a traditional sense, but Kidd was elite in virtually every area on that side of the ball, something that he more or less maintained at the NBA level, even despite battling some athletically limiting injuries.
 
On the surface, Ball shares some of Kidd's instincts and tricks. He has excellent anticipation, positional length, and regularly gravitates toward the ball when he's locked in. He averaged 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per 40 minutes, mastered the crack-down block, and, like Kidd, knows how to wreak havoc in the back court at times using his brain, length and quick hands. Ball is rangier defensively and has the length to guard a couple of positions in theory, something he did at times during the college season, matching up with players as big as Oregon's Dillon Brooks for stretches.
 
Where Ball leaves much to be desired is in the toughness, physicality and mentality departments. He tends to die on screens, doesn't bump cutters, and isn't going to use his body to contain penetration. He's never been a physical defender, and he has a tendency to float a bit at times, which was easy to do on a team that gave up 75.5 points per game, good for 259th in the NCAA. Ball also has a tendency to get a little bit too upright in his stance, as he had some issues keeping quicker guards in front. He has good feet when he digs in, and he understands angles and distance, but he lacks the body and tenacity that Kidd possessed.
 
Kidd was a plus defender at virtually every stage of his career, and his impact on that end was a big reason his teams where so dynamic in transition. Ball projects as more of an average defender at the NBA level, and while instinctual with length, will likely never develop the same mentality that Kidd possessed on that end of the floor.   MENTALITY
 
Overall Kidd and Ball differ a bit in terms of their mental makeup. Both basketball visionaries in their own right, Kidd had a fearlessness and fire about him that Ball has only shown in spurts. Ball is no stranger to big shots, and, like Kidd, his level of self-assuredness on the floor (at least to the untrained eye) is very impressive, but he's not immune to blending in at times. There were times throughout the year where he took a little too long to get himself going, and he didn't always handle ball pressure and in-game adversity with the level of aggression of Kidd. Ball is without a doubt a winner who makes everybody better and ignites a free-flowing style of play that NBA fans will enjoy for a decade plus. With that said, he didn't always display the same level of killer that Kidd did at the college level.
 
Ball isn't exactly Kidd, just like Brandon Ingram isn't exactly Kevin Durant (LINK) and Luka Doncic isn't exactly Manu Ginobili. The NBA has changed over the last 24 years, and with that you get new age players like Ball, who shoot more threes than twos, take only eight mid-range jumpers per year, and knock down at least one step back 30-footer a night.
Kidd could very well be considered one of the greatest, most well-rounded pure point guards of all time. For Ball to be mentioned in the same realm as a prospect should be an honor for the Chino Hills native, and if he does go #2 (like Kidd in 1994) and comes anywhere near Kidd's ten All-Star appearances, 1995 Rookie of the Year award, 2011 NBA title, five First-Team all NBA selections, and overall 19 seasons of NBA service, his career will be a massive success.
 
Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but Ball will certainly chart his own path in the New NBA', delivering entertaining basketball one outlet pass and step back three at a time.  

Lonzo Ball NBA Draft Scouting Report and Video Analysis

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Derek Bodner
Derek Bodner
Apr 12, 2017, 11:50 pm
Scouting Report by Derek Bodner. Video Analysis by Mike Schmitz

When Lonzo Ball arrived at UCLA last fall, he was looking to revive a program which had collapsed down the stretch the previous year. UCLA went just 6-12 in Pac-12 play in the season before Ball's arrival, and lost ten of their last 13 games to close out the 2015-16 campaign.

Armed by the arrival of Ball and fellow freshmen T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu, UCLA would undergo one of the more dramatic turnarounds in recent memory. Propelled by Lonzo Ball's frenetic style of play and the best offense in the country, UCLA powered their way to a 31-5 record and a three seed in the NCAA tournament.

Ball averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on the season, gaudy numbers in their own right. When adjusted for pace, his 8.1 assists per 40 minutes ranked second among top-100 prospects in the DraftExpress database, with his 6.4 rebounds per 40 third among point guards. But Ball's impact went far beyond his own personal numbers as he almost single-handedly transformed an offense that ranked outside of the top-50 the previous season into one of, if not the, very best the country had to offer.

Ball stands 6'6" in shoes with a 6'9" wingspan, providing him with a number of unique advantages at the point guard spot. His frame isn't all that fleshed out, however, and his lack of physicality can hinder him in a number of areas as well.



When discussing the Lonzo Ball experience, it would be impossible not to start with his elite transition play. Ball his virtually the entire package in this regard, from his ability to force turnovers and grab defensive boards to ignite the break, the breakneck speed he operates at with the ball in his hands, his elite creativity and passing accuracy, and even right down to his knowledge of when to push the ball himself and when to give it up to his teammates. The ball doesn't stick, his decision making is quick, and his creativity and vision are nothing short of elite.



In all, transition opportunities accounted for nearly 30% of Ball's offensive possessions, per Synergy Sports Technology, where he maintained an outstanding 4.1-to-1 assist to turnover ratio.

In the half court, Ball is a little bit more of a mixed bag, with some pronounced strengths and weaknesses to his game. His bread and butter is still his amazing court vision and creativity. He has the size to see over the defense and find shooters in the corners, the vision and creativity to find big men rolling to the hoop, and the basketball IQ to make quality split-second decisions with more regularity than you would expect a 19-year-old to do. For a player who was such a focal point offensively and who generated so many scoring opportunities for his teammates, the ball didn't stick with Ball, allowing other players to serve as playmakers and encouraging constant movement from his teammates.



His biggest limiting factor at this stage is that he just doesn't show much ability to consistently get into the paint off the dribble, even at the college level. His first step isn't great, as his athleticism really begins to shine when he has the chance to build up steam in transition, and he doesn't have the strength needed to overcome that.



In fact, according to Synergy, Ball used just 33 possessions in isolation and used nearly 75% of his pick and roll possessions were as a passer, very infrequently using the pick to get into the paint and find his own offense. How limited he will be as a scorer in the half court is a legitimate concern for decision makers looking to build a team around him.

Ball sports a highly unusual shooting motion, albeit one he found quite a bit of success with this season. He connected on 41.2% of his 194 three-point attempts, many of them from far beyond NBA range. He was fairly consistent as a catch and shoot player, connecting on 44.6% of his catch and shoot shots, per Synergy, despite the fact that a majority of them came from three-point range and the fact that over 68% of them were contested.



In addition, Ball shows some comfort level shooting off the ball on the move, as he does a good job getting his feet underneath him when coming off of a screen. He also has a deadly step-back jumper, which is one of his go-to scoring options when he does look for his own shot off a pick and roll. The combination of his deep range and comfort with the step-back can be a tough guard for opposing defenses.

Where his awkward shooting mechanics can come into play is off the dribble. On the one hand, Ball connected on 48.6% of his jumpers off the dribble, yielding 1.343 points per shot, a number that was among the top figures in college basketball. The problem is those were very rare occurrences, as Synergy logged just 35 such attempts on the season, with the majority being step-back jumpers. Ball's low release point and need to come back across his body certainly seem to factor into his ability to get his jumper off when pulling up off the dribble, and he has almost no in-between game because of it.



One, perhaps unexpected, area where Ball contributes offensively is cutting off the ball, something he did more than most point guards because of the presence of Aaron Holiday sharing the backcourt frequently. Ball has a real knack for lulling his defender to sleep off the ball, then using hard backdoor cuts to create scoring opportunities. His athleticism comes to light in these instances, and he has the ability to rise up and throw down lobs with regularity.

48% of Ball's non-transition baskets at the rim were assisted, which highlights both his ability to move off the ball along with his struggles creating his own shot off the dribble.



This unique skill matrix for Ball could be somewhat interesting in some of the two point guard sets that have become more commonplace in the NBA. Having a second ball handler alongside Ball could really open up transition opportunities for a team. Then when things settle down into a half court set, Ball's ability to shoot off the catch and move off the ball, both in the form of cuts to the basket and shooting off screens, could allow him to function in half court sets even when he's not controlling the ball, and his ability to make quick, split-second decisions could punish a defense if they have to commit to helping on the primary action.



On the defensive side of the court, Ball does enough off the ball in terms of forcing turnovers and crashing the defensive glass to not be a total non-contributor, but he does have his weaknesses as well, and probably has neither the versatility or impact that his physical profile and steal/block output suggest. Ball struggles at times denying dribble penetration against quicker guards, and he can get absolutely blown up by screens, lacking both the awareness to recognize the screen and make the correct read while also struggling with the physicality to fight through the screen.

De'Aaron Fox and Kentucky attacked both of these weaknesses to devastating affect in their NCAA tournament victory, paving the way to a 39 point explosion from Fox. Beyond that, Ball struggles with having consistent focus and effort, something which his coach at the next level will have to work to correct.

Lonzo Ball is one of the more unique prospects to come out in some time. On the one hand, his strengths are legitimately elite, and fit in well with the modern pace and space NBA. Yet his weaknesses are pronounced enough that a team may have to construct their roster to help overcome them. Still, the overall package of skills is tantalizing and Ball separated himself as one of the best prospects in this upcoming draft, and looks to be one of the first names mentioned by Adam Silver on June 22nd.

Matchup Video: Lonzo Ball vs Kentucky

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Dec 04, 2016, 01:04 pm
Mike Schmitz takes a closer look at UCLA freshman point guard Lonzo Ball's 14-point, 7-assist, 6-rebound performance against Kentucky. The projected lottery pick matched up with a variety of different types of players, leading to some very strong moments, as well as showing plenty of areas he still has to improve on, on both ends of the floor.

Kentucky ended up losing this game on their home floor, giving up 97 points to UCLA, the most ever by a John Calipari coached team.

A horde of NBA scouts and executives were present in Lexington, as this was an ideal evaluation setting for talent evaluators to observe at least a half dozen future first round picks.



Mike Schmitz is the video analyst for DraftExpress. Follow him on twitter and check out the DraftExpress Video section. He will be breaking down the NBA draft in digital format all year long for us.

Lonzo Ball Transforming UCLA

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Nov 30, 2016, 04:53 pm
Mike Schmitz takes a closer look at UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball's season so far, specifically in terms of the impact he's had on the Bruins' teammates thus far with his elite passing instincts and unselfish play.



Mike Schmitz is the video analyst for DraftExpress. Follow him on twitter and check out the DraftExpress Video section. He will be breaking down the NBA draft in digital format all year long for us.

Top NBA Prospects in the Pac-12, Part 4: Lonzo Ball Scouting Video

Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Sep 15, 2016, 11:48 am
Mike Schmitz continues our coverage of the top NBA prospects in the Pac-12 with a video scouting report of the #4 prospect in the conference, UCLA's Lonzo Ball.
More DX Conference Previews
-The Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big East
Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Pac-12
(#1) Markelle Fultz
(#2) Lauri Markkanen
(#3) Ivan Rabb

(#4) Lonzo Ball, 6'6, Freshman, Point Guard, UCLA

Strengths


Weaknesses


Mike Schmitz is the video analyst for DraftExpress. Follow him on twitter and check out the DraftExpress Video section. He will be breaking down the NBA draft in digital format all year long for us.

2016 McDonald's All-American Interviews: Fox, Ball, Monk, Leaf

DraftExpress
DraftExpress
Mar 30, 2016, 08:40 pm

adidas Nations Scouting Reports: Point Guards

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
Aug 10, 2015, 06:19 pm
Mike Schmitz

Strengths:
-Great size and solid length for a point guard prospect
-Outstanding vision – 8.7 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted. Creative passer with either hand. Delivers the ball from different angles. Excellent timing hitting cutters, shooters and rim runners.
-Master of the quick outlet pass, especially with one hand.
-Active on the offensive and defensive glass. Has a nose for the ball. Not afraid to mix it up inside. 16.0 rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted.
-Outstanding instincts on the defensive end. Excellent anticipation. Thin but has the size, length, quickness and instincts to be a very good defender when motivated. 3.6 steals and 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes pace adjusted.
-Very unorthodox release point on his jumper but shoots it with range and confidence, and gets good rotation, all things considered.

Weaknesses:
-Good size and length but doesn't have a great frame. Very thin upper and lower body. Slightly hunched over. Legs/feet are a bit pigeon-toed.
-Good not great athlete.
-Extremely unique shooting mechanics. Releases the ball from the left side of his body, well below his head. Shoots across his body. Easy to contest
-Shot 22/70 in for 3 (31%) in Adidas settings this summer (Nations+Uprising)
-Questionable shot selection. Can really pass but has a tendency to force up deep, contested threes early in possessions.
-Flashy passer who will turn it over at times trying to make the homerun play.
-Poised demeanor but looks apathetic at times, particularly defensively. Has a tendency to take possessions off.

Outlook:
Ball is one of the more unique talents in the 2016 class. His size, court vision, basketball instincts, rebounding ability and defensive playmaking will make him an eventual, legitimate triple double threat in the Pac-12. It will be interesting to see how Ball's jump shot, arguably his biggest weakness, develops under former sharpshooter and current UCLA head coach Steve Alford. Overall, Ball has room to improve his body, jumper, and shot selection, but he'll serve as a do-it-all lead guard for the Bruins, and has a chance to continue that versatility at the NBA level down the road if he continues to develop.

New Batch of USA Basketball Measurements Released on DraftExpress

DraftExpress
DraftExpress
Oct 03, 2014, 01:51 pm
Class of 2016 point guard prospect Lonzo Ball measured 6'4.5 in shoes with a 6'7 wingspan. He has outstanding size for his position, but his 162-pound frame remains a work in progress as it ranks among the lightest measured by USA Basketball this summer.

2014 adidas Nations Interview: Lonzo Ball

DraftExpress
DraftExpress
Aug 22, 2014, 11:12 am

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