It was a foregone conclusion in 2017 that the Los Angeles Lakers were selecting UCLA standout freshman Lonzo Ball as their point guard of the future. Magic Johnson, who was running the Lakers as President of Basketball Operations at the time made the decision to draft Ball while showering him with unfair expectations and hype.
After a few underwhelming seasons in Los Angeles that were hampered by injuries, Ball was shipped to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis trade. Now out of the bright lights of Staples Center, Ball is in prime position to succeed and remind the NBA world why he was one of the most talked-about prospects in recent memory.