After struggling to find his shot and consistent role in an offense during his first two seasons in the league, Lonzo Ball broke out in his third season largely through his long-range shooting. In his first year in New Orleans, Ball finished a career-best 37.5% from three-point range.
However, Ball’s play inside the bubble left a sour taste in the mouths of everyone that watched him and the Pelicans struggle. Ball went 5-of-27 from three in the team’s first six games. Despite a strong finish in his last game in the bubble, Ball shot 28.1% from beyond the arc in his seven bubble games.
That poor performance left an indelible mark on some around the league, as noted in Tim Bontemps’s recent ESPN piece. In looking back at Ball’s drop off in production, Bontemps cited an Eastern Conference scout’s take on Ball.
“He can’t make shots. Not only can he not make shots, but he can’t finish, and it’s gotten to him. … [I’d pay him] $12 to 14 million [per year] for three years, maybe?”
While that scout’s outlook on Ball is overly simplified, it isn’t the consensus opinion. Bontemps also cited a different scout’s take on Ball later in the piece.
“I think he’s turned the corner,” one East scout said. “His game is on the upswing. … Am I concerned? A little bit, but I still think it’s an upward trend.”
Prior to his season in New Orleans, the first statement would have been true. However, after showcasing his refined jumper for the better part of 40 games before the lockdown, Ball proved he was a new player. Even in his final game of the season, Ball looked again like the pre-lockdown version of himself.
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