CLEVELAND -- Should LeBron James leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers, there is a growing sense that Lonzo Ball will not be one of his teammates.
ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported that “The one constant that I’ve heard is Lonzo Ball” when asked on a part of the deal to bring James to the Lakers.
“The one constant that I’ve heard is Lonzo Ball.”
— ESPNLosAngeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) June 15, 2018
- @ChrisBHaynes on a potential piece to be moved for LeBron James
James famously feuded with Ball’s father, LaVar, after he said “his children are set up better for future success” than James’ kids.
“Keep my kids’ name out of your mouth. Keep my family out of your mouth,” James told ESPN after a practice at UCLA on a West Coast trip in March. “This is dad to dad. It’s a problem now.”
Despite breaking in new lineups after acquiring guards Jordan Clarkson, George Hill and Rodney Hood, as well as forward Lance Nance Jr., at the NBA trade deadline in early February, James had standout performances throughout the regular season and playoffs, so much so that he was named a finalist for the 2017-2018 NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
During the postseason, James averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists while playing 41.9 minutes per game. Despite having to play two seven-game series before getting to the NBA Finals, James led the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference Championship.
In The Finals, James averaged 34.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals over 45.0 minutes per game.
“He’s incredible,” Nance Jr. said.
“I don’t know if there’s another word for it. It’s been ridiculous getting to go on this ride with him in the playoffs. From the outside looking in, you don’t get to see the type of leader, the type of teammate that he is. Just from being here, the way he treats us, his teammates, everybody associated with the Cavs, he’s much more than just a great basketball player.”
Despite being 33 years old and in his 15th NBA season, James played in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career, averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.4 steals over 36.9 minutes per contest.
Always one to pride himself on efficiency, James shot 54.2 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range. James’ shooting percentage from three-point range was the third-best single-season mark of his career.
“To be the best player in the world and to give everything you’ve got in your 15th season, play all 82 games, probably one of the greatest playoff runs that we’ll ever see from an individual, to carry this team the way he did all season and leading by example, it’s just a testament to his character and who he is as a person and as a player,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said.
The No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball averaged 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals over 34.2 minutes in 52 games for the Lakers. Ball made 50 starts for the Lakers, shooting 36 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range during his rookie season.