No coach in the NBA has more experience coaching Lonzo Ball than current Kings head coach Luke Walton. Prior to Walton relocating to Sacramento and Ball being dealt to New Orleans, the pair spent two years together in Los Angeles with the Lakers.
Walton’s past experience coaching one Ball brother resurfaced in preparing for Sunday’s game for the Hornets. Lonzo’s youngest brother LaMelo has had a standout rookie season for Charlotte and has reminded Walton of the eldest Ball brother.
“Watching (film), you see a lot of Lonzo in LaMelo,” Walton said. “I loved coaching Lonzo. I think Lonzo’s got a very bright future ahead of him. He’s a brilliant playmaker that pushes the pace and, like I said, gets his teammates involved. Teammates love playing with him. There’s a lot of similarities prepping for this game and looking back on coaching Lonzo.”
Walton isn’t the only one to see similarities between the Ball brothers. Before Friday’s game in Oakland against the Hornets, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned LaMelo reminds him of Lonzo, even if he is a one-of-a-kind player.
“I think he’s very unique,” he said. “He reminds me a little bit of his brother, just the fluidity, willingness to throw the ball ahead in transition. He’s definitely a real point guard. Those are few and far between these days. Most young point guards want to grow up to be Steph or Damian Lillard, to be lethal shooters and LaMelo is kind of old school — pass-first point guard who is showing that he can shoot too. Really a terrific young player.”
Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton is also in the midst of a standout season. Prior to being drafted to Sacramento, Haliburton mentioned he was often compared to Lonzo in the predraft process. Now during his first season in the NBA, Haliburton is drawing comparisons to LaMelo.
“I think where they’re very similar is they make their teammates better and that’s a quality every coach is looking for,” Walton said. “You’re looking for guys on your team that can bring up the play of the group as a whole. Watching film on Charlotte the last couple days, LaMelo is doing a great job of that for that Charlotte team. He plays with passions. He gets people open looks. He gets in the paint. He will pass up his own layup to get somebody a dunk.
“Tyrese does a lot of that for us, too. He’s getting in the paint, attacking downhill, coming up with steals, just things that give your team extra confidence. For young players to have that trait, that’s rare and something that is exciting for who gets to coach guys like that.”