NBA: Ball: Learning from LaVar and LeBron

After the Los Angeles Lakers lost to Utah Jazz on Saturday, No. 2-Pick Lonzo Ball took the blame. On Monday he explained why he takes this for granted.

“That’s how I was raised,”Ball said after practice.”I’m not gonna change that. It’s a team game; we play for each other and win and lose together. But I’ll take it on my head if we lose. That’s how my father taught me. He’s been training me like this since I was six years old.”

For him, that’s part of being a leader, the 20-year-old continued. That also inspires him at LeBron James:”He was always my favorite player. He’s still playing just like that. He always takes the blame.”

The Lakers had lost their fourth defeat against Utah after Ball had “two stupid plays”, as he himself put it. Coach Luke Walton said it wasn’t his fault, but Ball continued to insist and said that the slightly slower style of play was due to him.

“We need more space – I feel like we’re carrying the ball forward too often,”Ball said,”and that’s because I’m the point guard. I need to step up the pace a little more.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson praised the responsible appearance of balls, but also pointed out that Ball was just 20 years old,”It’s a process. He’s definitely trying to take on this leading role. It’s good for him to assume that at such a young age. He’s learning.”

Ball scores an average of 10 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Lakers, but only 31 percent from the field and 28 percent from the three-line.