LeBron x Lonzo Summer Eighteen. . .
Over the weekend, Kobe Bryant shared some insight on how he believes Lonzo Ball will eventually become the player the media has hyped his up to be – with lots of hard work.
Well, LeBron James echoed those same sentiments with ESPN; giving his interpretation on how Zo2 has handled the pressure from media, fans and the Los Angeles Lakers organization.
He went to explain how his rookie season is similar to the pressure Lonzo has endured this year. James gave the 20-year-old rookie praise for handling his learning experience so far.
Take a look at excerpts from James examining the west coast rookie’s first season in the NBA.
LeBron speaking on Lonzo’s hype.
The kid hasn’t said anything. It’s been everybody else. So, I love his humility. He goes out, every time someone asks him a question. This is not about me, man. I just want to win. I don’t care about what I did. I seen he had a triple-double one game and they lost. He was like, ‘I don’t care. We lost.On comparisons to his rookie year in 2004.
So, can I draw any parallel to my experience? I mean, of course. I guess when you’re drafted to a franchise, they want you to kind of be the savior. And it takes a while. I mean, listen, man, this guy is 20-something games into his pro career. Shit doesn’t happen that fast. Here it goes again, it goes back to my instant oatmeal [quote]: Everybody wants it right away. Can he play ball? Absolutely. The kid can play ball. Do guys want to play with him? Absolutely, because it’s a guy who is not about him. It’s about the success of the team. And he gives the ball up and he passes the ball and there’s energy behind the ball.How Lonzo’s currently handling his situation in Los Angeles.
I don’t know what he’s personally going through. I can’t comment on anyone’s situation because I’m not a part of it. From the outside looking in, yeah, there’s a lot around him. I mean, he’s the No. 2 pick. He’s drafted to a team that’s not been very good the last few years — who’s built off winning championships. That’s what the Lakers are about. That’s what the Patriots are about. That’s what the San Antonio Spurs are about, the Red Sox and the Yankees. So, when you become a part of that, you become a part of a franchise that’s accustomed to winning.If he believes Ball will become a great player.
No one knows what he’s going to become. No one knows with anybody when you’re drafted. I don’t care if you’re drafted 60 or you’re drafted first. Did anybody imagine that Isaiah Thomas would be the player that he is today? Being the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ that they call it? Did anybody know that I would be the player I am? Everybody can think and say and do these things and say, ‘Oh, he has this attribute and that attribute. Well, I mean, I knew the player I would grow into. So, you got to ask Zo. I mean, I knew what I was going to become. I just had that drive. I got a drive about me that I’m not going to let nothing stop me from being as great as I can be. Because, I just knew I had the tools.
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