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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – A visibly bigger balloon, Lonzo Ball, says the biggest change he made to his jump shot is the addition of more strength.
Ball says he "just been allowed" to participate in full workouts after undergoing surgery on a torn left meniscus. The Lakers will be careful and take things slowly with Ball. Lakers coach Luke Walton told Dave McMenamin of ESPN that the plan was to start Rajon Rondo as playmaker while Ball returned from his mid-July operation.
Once Ball returns in 5-in-5, he hopes to improve his kick and his ability to finish better in the paint.
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Last season, Ball put the ball on his left side when he shot. Now Ball still pulls to his left side but has moved his setpoint slightly more towards the middle, drawing rave reviews from Lakers Magic Johnson basketball operations president and general manager Rob Pelinka.
"Everyone says my jump shot [is] this new thing, "said Ball Monday. For me, it's not really changed much. I just think that I have become much stronger. So, I do not really have to throw the ball like I did last year. [The set point] moved a little more in the middle, but it's still on the left side. But just trying to focus on my mechanics, keep my hand up, keep my elbow stronger and just be stronger, the top of my body makes it easier for me to get on the edge. "
Johnson says Ball's shot seems "handsome" and thinks the sophomore is ready for a rush season. New teammate LeBron James also sees great things for Ball.
"It's destined for greatness, I believe," James told McMenamin. "His basketball IQ, his ability to pass the ball, you have the impression of his teammates that they like to play with him."
Ball has entered his rookie season with huge expectations and hype. He sometimes had problems with injuries, missing 30 games. He also shot just 36% on the field and 30.5% behind the arc, with his free throw at just 45.1%.
Johnson told Ball that it was his most important summer ever and that he wanted the leader to work on adding muscles to stay more durable and finish more easily. Despite the use of the first part of the summer to rest his left knee and try to treat him with platelet-rich plasma injections, Ball was able to spend time in the weight room and in the room cinema by following study sessions with Johnson and Rondo.
"If you look at Lonzo, his body has changed.His upper body is built like a brick wall now and it is very impressive to see his dedication even with BI [Brandon Ingram]Kyle Kuzma said, questioned what he had seen other young Lakers this season.
"Last year was full of ups and downs for me," said Ball about what he learned from last season. "I think staying closer to the people who really care about you and staying with the team are great things, and personal goals, my shot from last year could have solved a lot of things. I was shooting, many people would not have much to say, it's pretty much the main thing. "
"I think for me, moving forward is a matter of trust," Ball added. "Once you believe in yourself, you can practically do what you want in my opinion, so that's the main thing."
Ball has already experienced a major addition to her life with the birth of her daughter this summer.
"Not even basketball, life," said Ball about the impact that the birth of his first child had on him. "You have to think of a different human being, when she was born that kind of changed my point of view about everything.
"During pregnancy and other stuff, I knew that a girl was coming, but when she finally arrived, it was there that it really hit me. look at life very differently. "
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