LaVar picks Lonzo for ROY: 'I got the trophy already'
For his lofty standards, this latest prediction from LaVar Ball is rather tame.
LaVar predicted that his son would be named Rookie of the Year while taking in Lonzo Ball's professional debut at Las Vegas Summer League on Friday.
"Rookie of the Year?" LaVar said incredulously. "It's already a done deal, I got the trophy already ... how could he not be?"
LaVar Ball on if Lonzo Ball will win rookie of the year " It's a done deal I got the trophy already" pic.twitter.com/AmDh8SjwRf
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 8, 2017
LaVar made an entire empire off talking up his sons, so it's no surprise that he showed confidence in Lonzo. But it's not just hubris for the sake of hubris. Vegas bookmakers also list the No. 2 pick as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, ahead of other notable candidates such as Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons.
That speaks both to Ball's talent and to the wealth of opportunities that will be made available to him by an otherwise ragged Los Angeles Lakers squad. Fultz and Simmons will have to share the ball with Joel Embiid, while Ball will have the lion's share of possessions and minutes, which will increase his chances of racking up enough numbers to sway voters.