Prior to this season, Lonzo Ball made a number of changes in his game and personal life. Ball left Roc Nation after a very brief stint to join Klutch Sports, a move that came for a variety of reasons related to both on-court and off-court matters.
It’s not a coincidence that those off-court changes led to dramatic on-court success, though Ball’s work ethic played into that as well. Recently, Ball’s agent with Klutch Sports, Rich Paul, revealed a conversation he had with Ball prior to the season that led to his big year.
“Our conversation was just about him being himself. These guys are so young and everyone wants to evaluate the movie before it’s over. These kids are 19 20, 21, 22. Imagine in the corporate space, somebody telling you you’re 22 years old, but you’re not going to be successful. So, I told him we’re playing the long game, man. And for Zo, he came in with whatever the knock was on his shot, but in NBA you’ve got nothing to do but work on your game. So he’s done that and he’s earned the position he’s in and he’ll continue to get better.”
Ball revealed on “Ball in the Family” in the fall the decision-making behind his choice to join Klutch.
“Rich has a ton of connections. He’s not only helped me in the basketball world, he’s helping me off the court as well. Whether it’s music, clothing, art, anything, he’s definitely going to help me out. Like I said, I’m happy that he’s on my team and I think it was a win-win across the board.”
Ball’s off-court conversations weren’t the only contributing factor in his season with New Orleans in which he averaged a career-high in points and shot a career-best from 3-point range. His work with assistant coach Fred Vinson contributed largely to his improvements, but all of it seems to stem from how his mindset changed away from the court.
