Lonzo Ball and LaMelo Ball have grown closer, by their own admission, in the last year as the latter looks to follow in the footsteps of the former. LaMelo has leaned on Lonzo for advice on tips for playing professionally and the steps to take in entering the league.
But Lonzo hasn’t lost the competitive aspect of his relationship with his younger brother. As LaMelo is in the final stages of the predraft process, he looks primed to be one of the top draft picks and a surefire lock to play in the NBA next season.
With the Pelicans unlikely to be the team that drafts Ball both due to positional need and the statistical unlikelihood of the team moving up in the draft lottery, a match-up between the two Ball brothers will be on the horizon next season.
Lonzo has already taken the opportunity to talk trash to LaMelo about their first meeting, whenever that may be. On JJ Redick’s podcast with The Ringer this week, Lonzo was asked about the first meeting between the two and whether he’ll defend him.
“We’ll see. We’ll see if my name is matched up against his. I know his game pretty well so it might be a tough night for him.”
Lonzo also noted when teammate Jrue Holiday played brothers Aaron and Justin earlier this season against the Pacers and the success he had against his younger siblings. In the road meeting between the two teams, Jrue finished with 31 points, 10 assists and six rebounds against his two brothers.
Seeing the Ball brothers square off will be a fascinating meeting. It’ll also be the first time the public will see the two going against one another rather than on the same team.
