Lonzo Ball Shrugged Off Jamal Murray’s Stunt And Expects Opponents To Try ‘To Get Under My Skin’

Getty Image

Fair or not, Lonzo Ball has a giant target on his back. He can thank his bombastic father for that one. Basketball critics are showing little to no mercy for his lackluster play thus far, and opponents are going right at him on a nightly basis. Clippers’ point guard Patrick Beverley set the tone for Ball’s rookie season in the Lakers’ opener, harassing the rookie around the court in what ended up being the first of many miserable nights for the young point guard out of UCLA.

But Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray arguably took it to another level at the end of their 115-100 win over the Lakers on Saturday night. With the game well in hand after a 15-0 run to close it out, Murray was tasked with simply dribbling out the clock, but instead took the opportunity to show up Ball a little bit by dribbling around him as the clock expired.


Ball’s Laker teammates obviously didn’t take kindly to that, but Ball himself had a more measured reaction to it, via Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.

“My back was turned (on Murray when he pulled his stunt), but I really don’t pay no mind to it,” Ball said. “I don’t feed into it. I know everybody’s trying to get under my skin and stuff, but I don’t let it get to me. I came in expecting everything, pretty much. Nothing has really been out of (what he was expecting), so it’s cool.”

To Ball’s credit, he’s done a tremendous job of keeping his composure through all the turmoil. Things got even more turned upside on Monday when news broke that LaVar Ball was pulling LiAngelo out of UCLA. That comes in the wake of his indefinite suspension – along with three other players – for a shoplifting incident during their recent China trip.

There was no immediate word on LiAngelo’s next move, but you can be sure it won’t make things any easier on Lonzo anytime soon.

(USA Today Sports)

×