I want it to be known right now that I have never, and I mean never, sold my stock in $LNZO. I never will. I will have Diamond Hands with him for his entire career. I will, however, recognize when a player isn’t living up to their standards, and this season has been rough for Lonzo. He’s been in countless trade rumors, his production has taken a hit from last year, and he’s often been the third wheel in New Orleans.
Do I think that shouldn’t be the case? Not exactly. I think that Zion Williamson is a great basketball player. He’s the most hyped since LeBron James came into the league in 2003, but I think that a better comparison for him would be 2009 Blake Griffin, with 2017 Blake Griffin’s play-making ability. It’s clear that Zion understands that he’s going to be the focus of a defense, and he’s looking to get his guys involved in the game.
With Brandon Ingram, he’s a walking bucket. I don’t think he’s KD level yet, obviously. I don’t think it would be fair to expect that out of him this early in his career, but I do think that he’s got the potential to be a 25+ point per game scorer for a long time.
So where does that leave Lonzo? A third wheel. Lonzo has a very good skillset in my eyes. He’s 6’6″, he’s fast, he plays good 1-on-1 defense, he can run an offense, and his fast break abilities are top class. I think that he has the ability to be a 15 point and 10 assists per night player, not to mention that he has the ability to be a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor. Things haven’t gone the way that he would hope for, but all of the pieces are there. It may be hard to be the “star” in New Orleans with the firepower that Zion and BI bring to the table, but Lonzo has quietly had a really good month of February.
14 points, 5 assists, 3 steals against the Kings
18 points and 6 rebounds against the Suns
20 points and 9 rebounds against the Pacers
16/7/7 against the Grizzlies
15 points and 6 rebounds against the Rockets
21 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists against the Bulls
The Pelicans are 4-2 this month, and I think that it comes down to one thing; Lonzo being aggressive. When Lonzo is aggressive, looking for his shot early, driving to the rim, and making the right passes, he’s hard to stop. That kind of energy is infectious, especially with a young team. In this month, on top of all the stats listed above, he’s shooting 48% from the field, and 51% from deep. As it stands right now, Lonzo is making this offense work, and it is directly translating to wins.
Earlier this year, the Pelicans and Lonzo couldn’t agree to terms on an extension, and I knew that Lonzo was looking to prove himself. He was going to play his heart out, and get paid, no matter the team. When the season started and he wasn’t doing so hot, I was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to get it together, but he has proved me wrong once again. Even with the sub-par play, he’s been involved in multiple trade rumors, most recently to the Bulls. That should go to show how valuable he is when he’s on the floor.
I guess this article could also be called “A Lonzo Ball Appreciation Post” but I digress. I think that Lonzo has been thrown into situations that he hasn’t been well suited for, but he has still shown growth and progress nonetheless. One of these days, whether that’s in New Orleans, or somewhere new, Lonzo will be able to prove that he’s a top 10 point guard in the league. Here’s to the future.
Round The Game 
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