Lonzo Ball. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
Although the 2017 NBA Draft is still a good two months away, top prospect Lonzo Ball already has a preferred team to play for in mind.
The former UCLA point guard, who’s expected to be a top-3 pick, answered candidly when asked if he would prefer to be drafted number one or play for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
“I’m gonna go with the Lakers,” the 19-year-old stud said during a guesting on ESPN’s SportsNation segment.
“I’m a family dude. All my family’s in LA, so to be able to play in front of them, you know, I think that would mean more to me,” he explained.
Currently, the struggling Lakers (23-55) have a 15.6-percent chance at landing the No. 1 selection, and is projected to pick no worse than the third-best in the lottery. However, their pick would be awarded to the Philadelphia 76ers if it drops outside the top three.
It also didn’t help their odds, after the team surprisingly defeated the San Antonio Spurs 102-95 in their last outing.
Ball, meanwhile, faces stiff competition from University of Washington’s dynamic guard Markell Fultz, whom pundits believe should go number one.
The 2017 NBA Draft will be held on June 22, while the draft lottery will take place during the playoffs on May 16. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
RELATED STORY:
Nike wants Lonzo Ball, but not for father’s asking price of $1B