Lonzo Ball was drafted in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was selected with the second overall pick, making him one of the highest drafted players from his class. Since then, Ball has become a household name in the NBA and beyond. He’s developed a strong following thanks to his unique playing style and off-court personality. In this article, we’ll take a look at when Lonzo Ball was drafted, as well as some of his accomplishments since joining the Lakers.The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball in the 2017 NBA Draft.
When Was Lonzo Ball Drafted?
Lonzo Ball was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was the first player selected in the draft that year, following Markelle Fultz, who was taken first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. Ball’s selection marked the fourth consecutive year that a UCLA Bruin had been selected in the first round of the draft, following Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams and Norman Powell.
Ball was considered one of the top prospects in his draft class. He declared for the draft following his freshman season at UCLA, where he averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. He was also named to both the All-Pac-12 First Team and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year during his time at UCLA.
Ball has since become a key contributor to his team, playing an integral role in their success over his three years with them so far. He has averaged 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 7 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range during this time with Los Angeles, helping them reach back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Los Angeles Lakers Draft Lonzo Ball
The Los Angeles Lakers have made their selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, and it’s no surprise that they chose Lonzo Ball. The 19-year-old guard out of UCLA has been widely regarded as the best point guard in this year’s draft class, and he’s expected to make an immediate impact for the Lakers. Ball is a dynamic playmaker who can create offense for himself and his teammates with ease, and he should provide a much-needed spark to the Los Angeles offense.
It’s also worth noting that Ball is an L.A. native, so there was a lot of excitement around the pick from the city’s basketball fans. His dad, LaVar Ball, has been outspoken about wanting his son to play for the Lakers, so this pick was a win for both parties involved.
The selection of Ball is seen as a sign that the Lakers are ready to start their rebuild under new president of basketball operations Magic Johnson. He has already made some big moves this offseason, including trading away D’Angelo Russell and signing free agent center Brook Lopez. Now with Ball in tow, Johnson appears to be putting together a young core that could be competitive in the near future.
Overall, the selection of Lonzo Ball by the Los Angeles Lakers could prove to be one of the most important decisions in franchise history. He could become one of the best players in the league and provide an exciting new era for basketball fans in Los Angeles.
2017 NBA Draft – Who Was Selected?
The 2017 NBA Draft was a huge success as teams looked to the future of the league. The first pick of the draft went to the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected Markelle Fultz, a point guard from the University of Washington. Fultz is expected to be an immediate impact player for the 76ers, and he should fit in nicely with their young core.
The Los Angeles Lakers followed up by selecting Lonzo Ball, a point guard from UCLA. Ball is one of the most highly touted prospects in recent memory and should be an integral part of the Lakers’ rebuilding process. The Boston Celtics rounded out the top three picks by selecting forward Jayson Tatum out of Duke University.
Beyond these three selections, there were several other notable picks throughout the draft. Josh Jackson was taken fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns, and De’Aaron Fox was taken fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings. The Orlando Magic selected Jonathan Isaac sixth overall, followed by Lauri Markkanen going seventh overall to the Chicago Bulls and Dennis Smith Jr. going ninth overall to the Dallas Mavericks.
In addition to these top ten selections, some other notable players were taken in later rounds. Donovan Mitchell was selected 13th overall by Denver Nuggets and traded to Utah Jazz; Jarrett Allen went 22nd overall to Brooklyn Nets; OG Anunoby went 23rd overall to Toronto Raptors; Luke Kennard went 12th overall to Detroit Pistons; Zach Collins went 10th overall to Portland Trail Blazers and Justin Patton went 16th overall to Chicago Bulls via Minnesota Timberwolves trade.
Overall, 2017 NBA Draft featured some very talented players who have high hopes for their future in professional basketball. These players will now get a chance to prove themselves on their respective teams and make a name for themselves in the league for years to come.
Breaking Down The 2017 NBA Draft
The 2017 NBA Draft was a historic one, as the NBA welcomed a new set of top-tier talent into the league. The Philadelphia 76ers made Markelle Fultz the first overall pick, and he was followed by Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, Josh Jackson of the Phoenix Suns and De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings. With all of these talented players entering the NBA, it is worth taking a closer look at how they will fit in with their new teams.
Markelle Fultz was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. He is a dynamic playmaker who can score from all three levels and has shown an ability to make plays for his teammates. He should fit in nicely with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to form a formidable trio for years to come.
Lonzo Ball was taken second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, and he has already made an impact on their young core. His playmaking ability should help create open shots for Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson while also providing floor spacing for Julius Randle to operate down low. Ball’s passing ability alone should make him an instant contributor for the Lakers.
Jayson Tatum was taken third overall by the Boston Celtics, and he brings another dynamic scorer to their team. He has shown an ability to score from all three levels and can also create off the dribble for himself or his teammates. He should be able to provide some much-needed scoring punch for a team that is already very deep.
Josh Jackson was taken fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns, adding another athletic wing player to their young core. He is a lockdown defender who can also score from all three levels, though his most impressive trait may be his passing ability from out on the perimeter. Jackson could be just what Phoenix needs as they look to take steps forward in their rebuild process.
De’Aaron Fox was taken fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings, adding another electric playmaker to their roster. He is lightning quick with great court vision that allows him to make plays both for himself and his teammates when attacking off of ball screens or pushing in transition. Fox should help give Sacramento’s offense some much-needed life as they look to improve on last season’s record.
The 2017 NBA Draft provided a lot of talented players who will be making an immediate impact on their teams next season and beyond. With Markelle Fultz going first overall followed by Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson and De’Aaron Fox rounding out the top five picks, this draft class looks primed to make some noise in years ahead.
Ranking the Top 10 Picks of 2017 NBA Draft
The 2017 NBA Draft saw many talented players enter the professional ranks. Each team had a chance to select a player that they felt had the potential to become a star. With so many talented prospects available, it can be difficult to rank the top 10 picks from the draft. However, there were some clear standouts who have already made an impact on their respective teams.
The first pick of the draft was Markelle Fultz by the Philadelphia 76ers. Fultz is a dynamic guard who has shown great promise in his short time in the league. He has shown flashes of becoming one of the best guards in the league and has proven himself as a great playmaker and scorer.
The second overall pick was Lonzo Ball by the Los Angeles Lakers. Ball has been one of the most polarizing players in recent memory due to his father’s outspokenness and his own unique approach to playing basketball. However, he has been an integral part of reviving the Lakers franchise this past season and looks like he will be a key piece for them in future seasons as well.
The third overall pick was Jayson Tatum by the Boston Celtics. Tatum was considered one of the most complete players in this draft class, and he has certainly lived up to expectations so far. He has been an excellent scorer for Boston and is proving himself to be one of their key pieces for years to come.
The fourth overall pick was Josh Jackson by the Phoenix Suns. Jackson is an athletic forward who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He is a great defender and can also knock down shots from outside when needed. He is showing promise as one of Phoenix’s best young players as they look to rebuild their franchise into a contender again.
The fifth overall pick was De’Aaron Fox by the Sacramento Kings. Fox is an explosive point guard with tremendous speed and athleticism that allow him to get wherever he wants on offense. His quickness makes him difficult to contain on defense as well, making him one of Sacramento’s most important pieces going forward.
The sixth overall pick was Jonathan Isaac by the Orlando Magic. Isaac is an intriguing forward with great length and athleticism that make him difficult to defend against at either end of floor . His shooting ability gives Orlando another dimension on offense, while his defensive capabilities make him an asset defensively as well..
The seventh overall pick was Lauri Markkanen by Chicago Bulls The Finnish big man quickly established himself as one of Chicago’s best players from day one, showing off his deadly outside shooting touch . Markkanen’s ability stretch opposing defenses make him invaluable for Chicago going forward..
The eighth overall pick was Frank Ntilikina by New York Knicks .Ntilikina is another young point guard who is still finding his footing after being thrust into New York’s starting lineup early on in his career . He has shown flashes at times but still needs more time before he can reach his full potential..
The ninth overall pick was Dennis Smith Jr., selected by Dallas Mavericks . Smith Jr.’s explosiveness gives Dallas another dynamic player to pair alongside star rookie Luka Doncic . Smith Jr.’s combination of speed and athleticism make him dangerous when attacking off screens or driving towards basket..
Tenth Overall Pick
Finally, at tenth overall selection came Malik Monk by Charlotte Hornets . Monk may not have gotten off to best start in Charlotte but he certainly showed what he can do when given playing time later on in season . His scoring ability makes Monk potentially deadly threat off bench when Hornets need instant offense..
The Boston Celtics Trade the No. 1 Pick
The biggest surprise of the 2017 NBA Draft was undoubtedly the Boston Celtics trading their No. 1 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package of picks and players that eventually enabled them to select Jayson Tatum. This move, while initially met with some skepticism, has paid off in spades for Boston, who have seen Tatum develop into an All-Star caliber player and key contributor to their recent success.
Markelle Fultz Goes No. 1 Overall
The player chosen with the top overall selection in 2017 was Markelle Fultz, a combo guard out of Washington University. Fultz was seen as a potential franchise cornerstone for whichever team selected him, and despite some initial injury issues, he has since become an important piece of the Sixers rotation and is currently averaging 14 points per game.
Lonzo Ball Goes No. 2 Overall
The second pick in the draft belonged to the Los Angeles Lakers, who selected Lonzo Ball out of UCLA with it. Ball was one of the most highly touted prospects in the draft class due to his elite passing ability and court vision, and while he has had his share of struggles during his time with the Lakers, he is still widely considered one of the best young point guards in the game today.
Jayson Tatum Selected by Celtics at No. 3
With their selection at No. 3 overall, Boston chose Jayson Tatum out of Duke University. While not as highly regarded as Fultz or Ball coming into the draft, Tatum has since proved himself to be one of its biggest steals — he averaged 23 points per game last season and is now considered one of Boston’s cornerstones moving forward.
Dennis Smith Jr. Selected by Mavericks at No. 9
While most eyes were on Ball as potentially being this year’s point guard savior, another point guard who flew under the radar was Dennis Smith Jr., whom Dallas selected with its ninth overall pick out of North Carolina State University. Smith Jr., while perhaps not as flashy as Ball or Fultz coming into the draft, is now emerging as one of Dallas’s key contributors and looks to be a mainstay in their lineup for years to come.
Lonzo Ball’s Impact on the Los Angeles Lakers After Being Drafted
Since being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, Lonzo Ball has had a significant impact on the team. His presence has brought a renewed energy and enthusiasm to the franchise, and he has quickly emerged as one of the most recognizable faces in all of basketball. Ball is known for his playmaking ability, his leadership on the court, and his unique style of play that relies heavily on three-point shooting. He has also been instrumental in helping to turn around the fortunes of a team that had struggled for several years prior to his arrival.
On the court, Ball is averaging 11.9 points per game, along with 6.1 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game during his time with the Lakers thus far. He has also proven to be an excellent defender, helping to anchor a Lakers team that currently ranks fourth in defensive efficiency across the league. His ability to push the pace and create scoring opportunities for his teammates has been invaluable for a team that was lacking scoring production prior to Ball’s arrival.
Off the court, Ball’s presence has helped to bring more attention and interest to a Lakers franchise that was previously struggling in terms of attendance and fan engagement. His popularity among younger fans has helped increase ticket sales and merchandise sales for the team, while also bringing more national attention to a franchise that had become somewhat forgotten over recent years. His impact on the organization can also be seen in terms of sponsorships, as companies have become increasingly willing to partner with a team that now features one of basketball’s biggest stars.
In conclusion, Lonzo Ball’s impact on the Los Angeles Lakers since arriving as their first-round pick in 2017 has been immense both on and off the court. His unique style of play has helped invigorate an organization that was desperate for some new life after several down years prior
Conclusion
Lonzo Ball was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He has been a key contributor to the team since his arrival, playing a major role in the Lakers’ return to playoff contention in 2019-20. Ball has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career and is looking to take his game to new heights as he enters his fourth season in the league. His unique skill set, combined with a desire to win, make him an exciting prospect for the future of basketball.
Ultimately, Lonzo Ball was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as part of their long-term plan to build a championship contender from within. While there have been highs and lows throughout his young career thus far, he still has plenty of time to reach his full potential as one of the game’s brightest stars. With continued development and hard work, Lonzo Ball could be one of the best players in all of basketball before too long.
