Larry Nance Jr. Says Lonzo Ball Will 'Make Everybody Better,' Stays Mum on LaVar

Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. seems excited about the prospect of playing with Lonzo Ball, telling TMZ Sports the No. 2 overall pick will "make everybody better" next season.

Nance spoke briefly to the paparazzo Sunday and said he "certainly hopes" the Lakers return to their "Showtime" glory. He did not have a comment when asked if Lonzo's father, LaVar, would be on the Lakers sidelines next season.

"I have no idea," Nance said.

Ball won summer league MVP honors in Las Vegas last month after averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. His two triple-doubles were the first ever recorded in Las Vegas summer-league history.

Nance previously supported his teammate on Twitter after a rough summer-league debut, "co-signing" a tweet from Baron Davis that called people "stupid for hating on Lonzo."

Heading into his third NBA season, Nance averaged 7.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 2016-17. He could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Ball's unselfishness, given his athleticism and rim-running abilities. No other player on the Lakers roster seems more likely to be on the receiving end of a Lonzo lob, and he should continue getting plenty of playing time off the bench.

The Lakers have made it publicly clear Ball's ability to make players around him better was paramount in their decision to take him second overall in June. 

"Lonzo is special, no question about it, because he makes everyone better," team president Magic Johnson told reporters. "He does something you can't teach. He gives you a scoring pass. Very few point guards in the league can do that. …I like him because he also is now a great teammate. He has a special effect on people."