LaMelo Ball has had the benefit in his rookie season, and even prior, of having not just a mentor but a brother in Lonzo that has gone through most of what he’s gone through in the NBA. Before being drafted No. 3 overall by the Hornets this fall, Lonzo had provided insight guidance to LaMelo during his time in Australia.
While their talks have been more infrequent since LaMelo joined the NBA due to the condensed schedule, Lonzo shared some of the messages he gave to his youngest brother before the season.
“Just basically (to) stay in the gym,” Lonzo said. “The NBA, it’s a long season full of ups and downs. You could have a bad game one day and a good game the next day. Just take it one game at a time and, you know, make sure you keep getting your ice in, because it’s a very long season.
“But I mean, other than that, he’s been playing basketball his whole life. So, it’s not really too much different things that you need to tell a kid like that. He’s already you know, been in the spotlight for a long time and he knows how to deal with everything. He’s got a good head on his shoulders so, basically, I told him to keep working.”
Lonzo said he’s spoken to LaMelo a bit this season, imploring him to keep the course regardless if he has a strong or poor performance.
“I just told him to stay level grounded,” he said. “Like I said, this a long year. I haven’t really talked to him as much as, you know, I have in the past because we’re playing pretty much every other day. He got a game, I got a game. So there’s not too much communication going on like that but when I do talk to him, you know, it’s all love. I’m here for him all the time. He knows that.”
Lonzo’s mentorship of LaMelo will make for an interesting dynamic as the two players meet for the first time. Regardless of the result, though, it’s clear their relationship is strong moving forward.