It took some time, but Lonzo Ball is starting to come good on the high potential he had before coming into the NBA. After a few years of struggling in the NBA, mostly while playing for the Lakers, Lonzo has come into his own, especially this season after joining the Chicago Bulls. And Lonzo could be on the verge of making history this year.
For the season, Lonzo Ball is averaging 13 points, 4.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game. With his defensive numbers the way they are, Lonzo staying consistent would be historical. Ball would become the first point guard in NBA history to average 1.5 steals or 1 block per game for an entire season.
Lonzo Ball stuffed the stat sheet tonight.
19 PTS
5 REB
8 AST
5 STL
1 BLK
He is averaging 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks this season. No other point guard in NBA history has ever averaged 1.5s/1b for the entire season. pic.twitter.com/gp7zyKoMli
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 21, 2021
Lonzo’s defense has gotten a lot better since joining the Chicago Bulls. When the new-look Bulls were being put together, there were concerns about how they would work defensively, given that players like DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and even Lonzo Ball were not known for their stellar defense.
But Lonzo has proven critics wrong on both ends of the court. His shooting has gotten a lot better. But his defense is turning out to be a crucial aspect for the Bulls every time they take the court. Lonzo, along with fellow former Laker Alex Caruso, is two of the most reliable defenders for the Chicago Bulls this season.
The Bulls do not rely on Lonzo on the offensive end nearly as much as they do on the defensive end. In fact, Lonzo has shown that he can be a 3rd or 4th option for the Bulls this season, and contribute on both ends of the court for them. The Bulls picking up Lonzo is turning out to be a spectacular decision for them, as he is coming up big for them on several different occassions.
