Second overall pick and NBA Summer League Most Valuable Player, Lonzo Ball, underwent an MRI Tuesday that revealed a mild calf strain, the Lakers announced. There is no timetable for Ball’s full recovery but he is expected to begin workouts with teammates soon, per Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet (via Twitter).
Ball, 19, averaged 16.3 PPG, 9.3 APG, 7.7 RPG, and 2.5 SPG, during the Las Vegas Summer League — which included two triple-doubles — but sat out Monday’s championship game against Portland due to the injury. Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma ended up being named the Las Vegas Summer League Finals MVP.
“I’m feeling a little bit better, training staff has been with me but they ruled me out,” Ball said to ESPN Monday about his injury, noting that he did not think it was serious.
As noted by ESPN, Ball became the third top-two pick to win Summer League MVP honors, joining Blake Griffin (2009) and John Wall (2010).
The UCLA product will now prepare for his first NBA season as he attempts to live up to the hype produced by his outspoken father, LaVar Ball.
Everybody is so thrilled with Lonzo winning Summer League MVP, but it’s really not that great a title. It’s like hitting the most home runs in Spring Training. Yeah, it’s impressive, but pretty much meaningless when the real games start.
BTW, the list of the last few SL MVPs.
Tyus Jones
Kyle Anderson
Glen Rice Jr
Jonas Valanciunas
Josh Selby / Damian Lillard
Aside from Lillard, that is not exactly a Who’s Who of young NBA greats.
Any there’s always that one guy who tries to rain on everyone’s parade. Let Lakers fans be happy. Haven’t had much to be happy about the last 5 years or so. It isn’t about the award it’s about the potential the guy has Ana what he possibly can become. Saw a lot of good things from him this summer and saw how can make others around him better. Not saying he will be a super star right off the bat but he might and at the least he should at least be exciting to watch and make the Lakers exciting to watch this season along with Kuzma and all the other players on the Lakers. Mostly we are excited that we’ve take a big step this off season in the right direction with getting rid of the Mozgov contract and having a really good draft.
Being happy is one thing, but that’s not the case here. This is all about being cocky without actually accomplishing anything. He MIGHT end up good, but as of now he is a rookie that has done nothing as of yet.
hiflew, No one is acting cocky. Where do you get this stuff?
Saying that getting Summer League MVP is not an accomplishment is just ignorance in the form of a subjective brain fart. Its as important to the beholder as they decide it to be.
The guy up there just expressed that Lakers fans can be happy about this and truthfully identified your need to be purely negative and without anything but assumption to back that up. Whether you are referring to the fan or Lonzo himself.
Well, consider that the Summer League has been in transition merging into the current locations.
Not alot of emphasis head been placed like this leading up to this summers results
Kuzma clearly should have won MVP
Was meh on draft night but kuzma really looks solid. Haters after ball struggled in first game were like he is a bust. He wins MVP now it’s no big deal
Its not really about being happy over lonzo being summer MVP. Its about the people who said he would bust because of no reason other than his dad. Ball was the safest prospect in the draft because if all else fails he can be a great passer regardless. Kuzma also looks like a big steal. Lakers finding good players late in the draft recently. Clarckson, Nance, Zubac now Kuzma
agree^^
It validates his potential. Its a small first step but meaningful none the less.
The Lakers have a great young core in place.
Kuz nance! Yes, zubac maybe? Clarkson
Trade bait!
Trade Ball while his value is at its highest it will be now.
The lakers really struggled after he got hurt. His ability to control a game without scoring is amazing. He just has that something special.
I think it’s a simple situation.
If he can deal with the level of speed and physicality present in the NBA regular season he will be great.
If he is never able to adapt to it, he will be an adequate point guard with above average passing.
I see no path for failure. It’s just going to be which level of success he reaches.
Agree
“It’s gotta be the shoes!!”
No one even mentioned Thomas Bryant but he didn’t look to bad either I think we had a really good draft
ESPN reports huge viewership from the
Summer league Basketball thanks to the
Lakers. Can’t wait till October!
It is kind of funny how after the first game everyone took stock in Lonzo’s performance and some had him cemented as a bust, but now that he won MVP it’s no big deal it’s just summer league you have to take everything with a grain of salt.