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LeBron: Lonzo sometimes 'doesn't realize how great he is'

Adam Pantozzi / National Basketball Association / Getty

LeBron James offered high praise for his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Lonzo Ball after the team's 90-83 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday night, and his words also served to light a fire under the second-year pro's behind.

"I think Zo, I think he just sometimes he doesn't realize how great he is," James said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "The things that he possesses out on the floor, when Zo realizes how good he is on the floor, it makes him a very dynamic player and it makes us even better. And he's been doing that as of late, his aggressiveness."

Ball shot just 4-of-10 from the field against the Jazz. However, James believes his energy will continue to benefit the Lakers, even when his shots aren't falling.

"Even when he's not making, just his attack as you've seen earlier in the game, just him getting to the rim (is important)," said James. "He missed a couple of 'em, that's absolutely fine. He had a couple charges, that's absolutely fine. When he's aggressive it just changes our dynamic of the team, and he's been doing it of late and we need him to continue to do that because he's very good."

James may have a point. The Lakers are 5-1 during the six games when Ball has reached double digits shot attempts this season.

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