Lonzo Ball has spoken often of his admiration of LeBron James the basketball player. Any interview from Ball before or even during James’ tenure in Los Angeles will see the sophomore guard speak highly of James as his favorite player growing up.
Ball talked about that again on his appearance on The Shop on Saturday with James in person.
Here’s the full transcript of Ball from the first part of the segment:
It was crazy for me because I didn’t know what to say to him first time. For me, I had been watching him my whole life and I own his jerseys and everything. So like when I seen him, I think I was just like ‘Yo, what’s up.’ But I didn’t know like ‘Do I ask him questions?’ I just kind of felt it out. Honestly, I didn’t really get comfortable with you until after All-Star (weekend). I was kind of on edge like I didn’t know how to be around him. Because I had never really been around someone I looked up to like that. Then I seen him in the locker room and it was crazy.”
As is often the case with The Shop, it’s interesting to hear Ball speak so candidly on the topic even with James amidst the conversation. And it’s also interesting to hear that the two didn’t get close until after the All-Star game, especially considering that Ball did not see any action on the court in that span and James joined him on the sidelines to close the season.
That timeframe also means that James and Ball grew closer in the wake of the Big Baller Brand scandal with Alan Foster. It’s also interesting seeing the two grow closer as Ball has hired James’ former agent Leon Rose and as Ball nears a potential new shoe deal with Big Baller Brand’s future in peril.
There may not be a better time for James and Ball to be growing closers as Ball seizes control of his future and his career.
