Lonzo Ball: Would be a 'blessing' to play for Lakers
His collegiate career ended just a few days ago, but Lonzo Ball already has his sights set on the 2017 NBA draft.
While the UCLA point guard is willing to play for whichever team selects him, he admitted he'd be far from disappointed if his hometown Los Angeles Lakers scooped him up.
"The NBA is the NBA, but it would be a blessing to be able to play for the Lakers," Ball said on ESPN's "First Take."
"It’s in L.A., I’m from here, my whole family’s here."
Lonzo previously wasted little time publicizing his decision to turn pro, announcing his intention to enter the upcoming draft immediately after UCLA's Sweet 16 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.
LaVar Ball, the outspoken father of Lonzo, said earlier this year that his son would only play for Los Angeles, before backtracking on those comments shortly after.
At 21-52, the Lakers currently have a 55.7 percent chance of landing a top-three selection this June. Should they fall out of the top three, the team would surrender its pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.
As a 6-foot-6 point guard with superb court vision, Ball quickly drew comparisons to Jason Kidd during his freshman campaign, leading the country in assists while averaging 14.6 points.