Lonzo Ball Goes 3-0, Impressing at Lakers Training Camp

Lonzo Ball is already winning with the Los Angeles Lakers.

More accurately, Ball got off to a flying start when his team won all three of its scrimmages on Day Two of Lakers' training camp, after Lakers coach Luke Walton finally divided up his training camp roster and rolled the ball out for five-on-five games with whistles and officials coming in to make calls.

Ball's unit consisting of Corey Brewer, Vander Blue, Kyle Kuzma and Thomas Bryant won all three of their games, and the rookie didn't seem shy about the night before when placed in front of microphones and cameras on Thursday afternoon.

"They were pretty fun for me," Ball said of the scrimmages in his usual monotone, subtly cocky style. "I mean, my team won, so I had a good time. Everybody is competing, getting after it. It was fun, getting up and down like that for the first time."

The new face of the franchise held bragging rights on Thursday, but he noted that three of the four other guys on his team also played at the NBA Summer League, so that familiarity didn't hurt the unit's chances of being successful.

"It definitely helped a lot," Ball said when asked about the shared Summer League experience.

Ball is the central figure in the Lakers' evolution to a fast-paced style of game, as Walton once called the 19-year-old a "genius" at pushing the ball up court.

"He sees the game," Walton said about his rookie on Thursday. "It's almost as if the game is moving a little bit slower for him than it is other players because we're asking everyone to play fast, fast, fast, and he's out there just making simple passes, and when guys are open ahead, he's putting it on their hands."

Is there a danger the Lakers will play too fast?

"I don't 'too fast' is a thing," Ball responded.

Walton expanded on the thought of the team playing too fast for its own good, explaining the challenges that come with playing a sped up style that encourages players to push the ball ahead and look for early scoring opportunities before the defense is set on the opposing end.

"We want to play fast as far as looking for transition opportunities," Walton explained. "What's going to take time and cause some sleepless nights is understanding when transition isn't open and then getting into a more flowing offense. We don't want to throw the ball ahead and then (the opponents) do a good job defensively, getting back and (we) shoot up a three real quick because we're trying to play fast. We don't want to do that."

With regards to Ball, though, Walton expressed that the rookie is handling his first training camp well and has been a vocal figure, even when the drills have been of a defensive nature.

"The way he (passes), he makes the right pass every time," Brewer, who played with Ball in the scrimmage, said about his young teammate. "He makes passes that some guys can't make. A lot of guys can't make the passes he makes. There are only a few guys that can make those passes, and they're all really good players. 

Brewer added, "He's going to be a really good player."

After a scheduled second session on Thursday, the Lakers will run a single practice on Friday to wrap up training camp. Then, Saturday in Anaheim offers Ball and the Lakers their first preseason game.

"I just want to get out there and play," Ball said about his impending debut.

The rookie added, "It's kind of the start of everything again."