Lonzo Ball has attracted comparisons to another tall, pass-first point guard who couldn't buy a bucket: Jason Kidd.
But Kidd, who submitted a Hall of Fame-worthy career, doesn't think the Los Angeles Lakers rookie has come close to earning that level of praise yet.
"It's still early in his career, and it's a stretch," he said Thursday on ESPN's "First Take."
"He has to understand what it means to play hard and what it means to win, and how to win at the highest level. It takes time, and hopefully in three years maybe there is a better comparison, but right now it is a stretch and he has a ways to go."
Sure it's early, but it's worth noting how similar their stats are through the first 11 games of their respective careers.
| MIN | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidd | 36.1 | 35 | 15.4 | 76.2 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 2 | 2.4 | 9.8 |
| Ball | 33.5 | 29.5 | 23.1 | 53.8 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 8.8 |
(Courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com)
To begin his Rookie of the Year campaign, Kidd led the Dallas Mavericks to a 7-4 record after being drafted second overall in 1994. He went on to make 10 All-Star appearances, nine All-Defensive teams, and six All-NBA rosters, and won a championship in 2011.
That should be encouraging to fans of the Purple and Gold. Ball, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, has struggled with his shot out of the gate. His field-goal percentage of 29.5 percent is the lowest for any player in the shot-clock era over their first 11 outings.
The 20-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance in other areas, namely his playmaking and ability to push the offense when he chooses to be aggressive for the 5-6 Lakers.
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