Lakers News: Rising Pelicans Guard Hopes To Make The King Proud

Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans knows that he is in the perfect position to rise in the NBA. He has shown glimpses of promise the past season and would have probably shown more had it not been for injuries. He gets a chance to blossom in the same way that D'Angelo Russell. But the difference is that he learned a lot with LeBron James by his side.

Ball was part of the multiplayer trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Pelicans. Los Angeles sent the 21-year-old guard alongside Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the draft rights to De'Andre Hunter, two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and cash in exchange for Anthony Davis, NBA.com reported.

Expectations were high on the second overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. Seeing however how the Lakers were struggling even with James at the helm, this was a blockbuster trade that was too hard to pass up. Now, Ball hopes to bring his experience to the Pelicans.

When asked on who mentored him most, Ball singled out James when he stopped by the "Rick Croy Podcast." He reveals how being near James most of the time and picking up some pointers from one of the greatest ever to play in the NBA.

“The person who’s mentored me the most in the last year is probably LeBron. Just being with him pretty much the whole year: same team, same bus, same hotel. I was just always with him and just picking up what I can from the greatest to ever play,” said Ball.

As previously reported, there is no denying that Ball has the talent to be among the best guards in the league. One department he needs to work on is his shooting, something that has drawn flak even before he officially joined the NBA.

Other than that, Ball has shown what he can do on the court. He is a good passer and playmaker, something that the Pelicans can exhaust. The Pelicans may not be among the favorites for the coming season but the young guys like Ball and Zion Williamson surely make them a team pretty interesting to watch.