Chicago Bulls starting point guard Lonzo Ball landed in the Windy City this offseason via a sign-and-trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Ball has been an integral part of the Bulls turning things around and performing at a high level to begin the 2021-22 NBA season.
The Chicago Bulls are currently tied with the Miami Heat for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-7. The addition of Ball is a big reason for that, as Chicago brass identified the point guard position as one that needed an upgrade and the former UCLA product was pinpointed as the player to acquire.
On the season Ball is averaging 12.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 34.9 minutes per game. He has developed into an excellent 3-point shooter, knocking down 43.8 percent of his attempts this season.
He has come a long way in terms of his shooting, as he struggled mightily in his first two seasons in the NBA. But, upon arriving in New Orleans, he began turning things around.
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While a lot of attention has been paid to his shooting form, and rightfully so, it is his defense that is his most impressive asset. Ball was not regarded as a strong defender coming out of college, but he quickly shed that label and is one of the most versatile backcourt defenders with his combination of length, athleticism and IQ.
He has gotten to play alongside some excellent defenders during his time in the NBA, but it is Jrue Holiday with whom he credits learning the most from. When asked about his growth and development with the New Orleans Pelicans, Ball made sure to mention the impact Holiday had on him during their time together.
“The one that sticks out is obviously shooting. But I think defensively, I stepped up a lot in New Orleans, just learning from Jrue Holiday, who I believe is the best defender in the league. Being able to see what he does, night in and night out, it helped me a lot on that side of the ball.”
Holiday taught Ball a lot, such as figuring out the coverage and trusting your teammates to have your back. Communication is key when it comes to playing defense at any level of basketball and is paramount if you want to find success on that end of the floor.
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Holiday’s pick-and-roll defense is something Ball lauded and said that he learned the most about.
“Mostly, pick-and-roll defense. He’s very elite getting over screens like that, and I struggled with that coming into the league, and I think I got a lot better.”
Jrue Holiday is one of the most underrated players and defenders in the NBA. He is not the first player that people mention when discussing the best defenders in the NBA, but he is certainly in the discussion. It is a discussion that Lonzo Ball will also find himself in soon if he is not already being mentioned.
