Los Angeles Lakers News: How Good Is Lonzo Ball? Rookie Named MVP At NBA Summer League

The Los Angeles Lakers' Lonzo Ball appears to be living up to the hype. The 19-year-old point guard took home the Most Valuable Player of the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League on Monday despite the team's decision to hold him out of the championship game due to tightness in his right calf.

For much of the tournament, the star rookie posted impressive statistics. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 steals and one block per game. But Ball's biggest contribution was as a distributor. The former UCLA star averaged 9.3 assists per game.

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Ball watched from the sidelines while the Lakers held off the Portland Trail Blazers, 110-98. Wearing a sleeve over his right leg, Ball told reporters that the team rested him for precautionary reasons after straining his calf on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.

There has been heightened attention on Ball, who joined the Lakers as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He recorded two triple-doubles, while dazzling crowds with his slick passing and court vision. League voters selected Ball to the All-NBA Summer League First Team along with the Trail Blazers' Caleb Swanigan, the Phoenix Suns' Josh Jackson, the Atlanta Hawks' John Collins, and the Mavericks' Dennis Smith Jr.

Lakers Summer League coach Jud Buechler raved at how Ball excelled despite physical setbacks. A groin injury hindered Ball from a July 10 game against the Sacramento Kings.

"He was just incredible," Buechler told reporters after the game. "He really was. Really happy for him to get the MVP. One of the most impressive things is, he missed two games and only played half of one game and still got the MVP. He really creates the environment where when one of your top players is sharing the ball like that, it's just contagious with everybody else."

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Buechler mostly echoed the sentiments of many NBA scouts. The consensus opinion of Ball is that he has a great feel for the game in the same mold as Jason Kidd.

With Ball watching from the bench, Kyle Kuzma provided the Lakers with a big lift. Drafted by the Lakers in June with the No. 27 pick, Kuzma scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to win the championship game MVP.

"The [Blazers] really tested us," Kuzma said after the game. "They had big men that caused problems for us.

"We buckled down and were able to run more in the third and fourth quarter and got them tired. I didn’t know I was that aggressive. I wasn’t that aggressive in college. When you’ve got a Lakers jersey, that gives you more confidence to say you’re really here."

It was an overall stellar game for Kuzma. The 21-year-old converted six of his 10 three-point attempts and at one point took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup. The Lakers also received solid performances from Ivica Zubac and Vander Blue among others.

"I’m proud of them," Ball said about his teammates. "It’s nice to have a championship under our belt even though it’s just Summer League...[Kuzma had] an easy 30-ball. Nothing new for him. He did what Kyle does out there. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. Every night he gives it his all."

The Lakers ended the Summer League with six straight wins and a respectable 6-2 record. They were the fifth team to earn the Summer league championship. Previous champions were the Golden State Warriors (2013), Sacramento Kings (2014), San Antonio Spurs (2015) and Chicago Bulls (2016).