Magic Johnson can’t stop talking about Lonzo Ball, a “pass-first point guard who can really get the ball up the court.” The Lakers top draft pick is expected to have immediate impact for the Lakers, who have been dragging their good name through the NBA mud for a couple of seasons now. The rookie Ball is a change agent for LA. “He’s a natural leader,” Johnson told Jamie Maggio of NBA TV. “He makes everybody around him better. He gives you a pass that you can score.” That’s worth repeating, because that’s the formula that made Earvin Johnson into Magic Johnson. It’s the key Lonzo Ball quality that the Lakers will use to attempt a return to Showtime, otherwise called “get the ball up the court.”
Is Ball really that good, that impressive? What makes him so great? Johnson, now the Lakers GM, says: “His basketball IQ. He’s so smart, so intelligent. You talk about efficiency, this guy is an efficient basketball player. And his teammates love him.” Now all he needs is a guy like Magic had, say James Worthy, a forward who finishes all those “passes you can score.” Magic has an idea about that.” Brandon Ingram will a breakout season. I’m looking for him to really be our leading scorer.”
