The NBA Summer League typically features the class of incoming rookies, young backups and players competing for training camp invitations. Starters almost never participate. Lonzo Ball, however, doesn’t consider himself too good to appear in the offseason event.
According to Bill Oram of the Southern California News Group, Ball said he’s willing to play if the Lakers want him to.
Lonzo Ball on summer league: "They want me to play I’ll play."
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 12, 2018
Ball recently wrapped up a rookie campaign where he tallied 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. He’s only the fourth first-year player in NBA history to record those averages, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
But the UCLA product also missed 30 games due to a couple of knee injuries as well as a shoulder issue.
Though he started 50 of his 52 appearances, Ball is still a work in progress. All on-court time with the organization can be beneficial for the 20-year-old point guard, and he recognizes Summer League isn’t simply a place for beginners and backups.