Lakers News: LeBron James Understands Pressure On Lonzo Ball

LeBron James sympathizes with Lonzo Ball's plight as the latter gets set to make his return to action for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ball has been on the sidelines since April due to a knee injury and later underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in July. It was an unfortunate way to end what was a decent-at-best rookie season for the 20-year-old as the Lakers eventually missed the playoffs again with a 35-47 record.

However, they are certainly playoff contenders now with the arrival of James on a four-year contract. Ball will get a chance to team up with the three-time champion for the first time when they take on the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in the first of two pre-season games against the reigning champions.

And according to James, Ball is practicing as if he didn't have any surgery during the offseason.

"Pretty good. I told you guys, since he's been on the floor, it doesn't seem like he's had anything done with his knee in the offseason," James told reporters Tuesday. "He knows how to play basketball, I think it's going to be exciting for him to get back on the floor, that's what's most important."

Ball, of course, was drafted by the Lakers last year as the No. 2 pick with a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

Not only was he seen as the future of the franchise, being an Anaheim native, but he was also hyped up as one of the best talents of all time by his outspoken father LaVar.

In the end, he struggled to really make the desired impact as he finished the regular season with an average of 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the 52 games he played last season. In addition, he was criticized for his poor shooting percentage as well as form.

With a lot of eyes on him during his rookie year in 2003 as well, particularly as he was hailed as the next Michael Jordan, James sympathizes with Ball's situation.

"You know, you get drafted to a franchise that wasn't as successful as they'd like to be," James explained. "Obviously they have way more success here in the past before he was drafted than we had in Cleveland so I'm not comparing the two franchises."

"When you're drafted that high and you're a local kid, people have seen you grow your whole life so they expect you to be great every night so in that sense, I can understand."

The Lakers are currently 1-3 in preseason, with James playing less than 16 minutes in each of the first three games.

Following their first preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets, James maintained things were a work-in-progress at Los Angeles, but the young team will really be tested against the Warriors at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

If the Lakers want to win a first championship since 2010, they may have to get past the Bay Area side in the playoffs. That said, their two preseason meetings are just another game for the 33-year-old.

"Just preseason, just another game," James added. "I don't think what we do tomorrow or what they [Warriors] show tomorrow will be the teams that will be come January, February, March, April."