Lonzo Ball hasn’t exactly been the poster boy for efficient scoring since he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, however, head coach Luke Walton wants him to keep shooting the ball.
Following the Lakers’ win over the Utah Jazz on Friday, Walton said that Ball is one of the few players on his team that he wants to shoot the ball more:
“I think with Lonzo … Lonzo always makes the extra pass. He’s one guy that we tell to actually hold onto the ball longer. Take it until someone stops you. He naturally wants to share the ball but I thought he did a really good job.
I don’t think that’s the reason he did it tonight, but I think he did a really nice job of being aggressive and then just reacting to the defense because the couple of plays before or after he also took it, they didn’t come and then had the left hand layup, which is what you want. Take the ball until someone stops you and when someone stops you make the pass to the next open man.
But he’s not one of the guys I’m working with on being less selfish.”
Ball has taken Walton’s advice to heart as of late. In his last two games, Ball has attempted at least 10 shots. That might not sound like a huge deal, but Ball hasn’t taken at least 10 shots in back-to-back games all season.
His shots haven’t been falling with any consistency, but his aggressiveness on offense sets the tempo for the rest of the team. It also makes defenses respect him, opening up lanes for his teammates they wouldn’t have otherwise.
Ball might not become a reliable shooter any time soon, but the only way he’ll eventually get there is if he keeps shooting. Luckily, it sounds like the coaching staff will work with him through his growing pains.