Lonzo Ball was one of the key acquisitions for the Chicago Bulls during the offseason, coming to the team via a sign and trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Over the course of the 2021-22 season, Lonzo Ball is averaging 12.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG, while shooting a career-high 44.7% from beyond the arc.
Alex Caruso has been Lonzo Ball’s teammate during the latter’s time on both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. Caruso was recently asked about the changes in Lonzo Ball’s game over his time in the league on an episode of The Old Man and the Three Podcast. Caruso revealed that Lonzo Ball tried to “play a different game” to fit in with the Lakers, but has now reverted to playing the style he used to in high school and college. (52:05)
“I felt like when he got to LA, he tried to play a different game. He tried to fit in to what the NBA point guard is supposed to do or what they wanted him to do. I feel like over the last year, year and a half, he started to play his game, which is no conscience. If you’re open, you shoot it. If you’ve got it on the break, you push it and you play fast. That’s how he played in high school. That’s how he played in college. That’s the reason he was the No. 2 pick in the draft.”
“I think he got away from that in LA for whatever reason. I have no idea what strings were pulled and voices were being heard, but the fact that he’s back to playing like himself, I think he’s just enjoying the game of basketball.”
Zach LaVine has previously lauded Lonzo Ball for being one of the “best passers in the game”, and passing is certainly one of Ball’s best skills. But Ball isn’t just a passer, as he is a very effective long-range shooter, as well as a great perimeter defender. There’s no question that Ball reverting to playing as he used to is good for his individual development, and many have noted that he looks comfortable with the Bulls.
While Lonzo Ball could definitely improve in the scoring department, there is less need for him to score when he has Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic on his team. Ball has been great in his role thus far, and hopefully, that continues to be the case for the whole season.
