LeBron James praises Lonzo Ball's attitude
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has been paying attention to Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball and likes what he sees.
James praised Ball's team-first attitude and said that type of selflessness makes other players "absolutely" want to play alongside the rookie.
James, who can be a free agent next summer, also compared the spotlight on Ball to his own rookie season in Cleveland (2003-04), when the Cavaliers lost the first five games and started 6-19 before finishing 35-47 and just missing the playoffs. The Lakers are off to a 10-16 start this season, and Ball's 26% three-point shooting has been criticized.
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"Can I draw any parallel to my experience? I mean, of course," James told ESPN on Tuesday night while watching Ball's Lakers fall in overtime against the New York Knicks, shortly after the Cavs beat the Atlanta Hawks. "I guess when you're drafted to a franchise, they want you to kind of be the savior. And it takes awhile. I mean, listen, man, this guy is 20-something games into his pro career. ... Everybody wants it right away.
"Can he play ball? Absolutely. The kid can play ball. Do guys want to play with him? Absolutely, because it's a guy who is not about him. It's about the success of the team."
The spotlight surrounding Lonzo Ball, of course, has much to do with his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, who has been critical of the Lakers' coaching and drawn headlines for public disputes with President Donald Trump. James saw that as separate from Lonzo.
"The kid hasn't said anything," James said. "It's been everybody else."
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