NBA Summer League 2017 MVP: Lonzo Ball Wins Coveted Award
The NBA announced Monday that Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball won the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League MVP award.
Ball also received All-NBA summer league first-team honors. Earl K. Sneed of the Dallas Mavericks' official site shared the full first and second teams:
".@Dennis1SmithJr is joined by Lonzo Ball (MVP), Caleb Swanigan, Josh Jackson and John Collins on the All-NBA Summer League First Team. pic.twitter.com/syhPVq2qg4
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) July 18, 2017"
Ball averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists in six summer league games. He helped the Lakers reach the championship game. Spectrum SportsNet's Mike Trudell reported a calf strain would keep the rookie out of the title clash with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ball's importance to the Lakers was evident during Los Angeles' semifinal win over the Mavericks on Sunday night. When his calf injury forced him to exit with 6:26 left in the third quarter, the Lakers were up 67-50. The Mavs trimmed the deficit to two points late in the fourth quarter before losing 108-98.
Despite his injury, Ball didn't disappoint in Sin City. He displayed the playmaking and vision that got him selected second overall in the 2017 draft.
The 19-year-old shot 38.2 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from beyond the arc, so he's still a work in progress offensively.
Still, Ball gives Lakers fans a reason to be excited for the 2017-18 season after the franchise averaged 22.8 wins over the previous four years.
