The Los Angeles Lakers fulfilled what had long been suspected and anticipated by selecting Lonzo Ball out of UCLA with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. It marked the third straight year the Lakers held the second pick in the Draft, and it was a second consecutive selection of a point guard.
The path for Ball to usher the Lakers into a new era was cleared by the team’s trading of D’Angelo Russell, last year’s No. 2 pick, to the Brooklyn Nets. Lakers president of basketball operations and Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson referred to Ball as the ‘new face’ of the Lakers franchise.
The UCLA product was formally introduced at the team’s practice facility on Friday afternoon, then headed over to Dodger Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Ball predictably received a warm welcome from the historically pro-Lakers crowd at Chavez Ravine, and shot, er, threw a strike from the mound to Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
Ball then had the honor of saying Vin Scully’s infamous, ‘It’s time for Dodger baseball’ before the team took the field for the series opener against the Colorado Rockies.
Ball, his youngest brother LaMelo, and other family members then settled into their seats behind home plate, and were treated to the Dodgers’ eighth consecutive win.
