LaMelo Ball, 19-year-old Charlotte Hornets point guard who was in the 3rd pick in this year’s NBA … [+]
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Growing up in the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills, Lonzo and LaMelo Ball used to play two-on-two and three-on-three heavy games against each other in their backyard.
“No one took it easy,” LaMelo said after Thursday’s practice. “Back there fighting, scratching, falling on concrete, playing hella hard. Parents get scared when their kids go back there. It was totally, something you really had to see. “
Something that gets everyone to watch Friday night is the first ever NBA matchup between the two brothers raised in the top three of their respective versions. LaMelo, the third 19-year-old overall pick in this year’s draft leads the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans to pick 23-year-old Lonzo in second place in 2017, and the Pelicans on ESPN.
“We grew up doing the same thing even though he’s a lot younger than me,” Lonzo said after practice Thursday. “So it’s great to see all the hard work my dad put in with us, my family and all the hills we ran, all the time that would we play on the court. ”
Lonzo Ball said there will be no rubbish between him and his younger brother as the two are aiming for him … [+]
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The two brothers said they would eventually make the NBA as they grew up, with that courage and faith that LaVar ‘s famous father instilled in them, even if his tactics were a bit uncontested, co. -less. The two brothers teamed up with middle brother LiAngelo, who will play at the G-League bubble this season, at Chino Hills High when Lonzo was a senior and LaMelo an expert. The team was not lost that season and won state and national championships.
“It was just a fun time to be around to be with him before I went on my trip and they went on the trail,” Lonzo said.
While Lonzo played one year at UCLA before being drafted by the Lakers, more of a traditional path to the league as he was named, LaMelo and LiAngelo went on to play for Prienai in Lithuania before playing a few states following a year with Illawarra Australian Hawks. But at the end of the day, both Walls ended up where they wanted to be, which is the NBA.
The two brothers say they’ll be talking all the time, but a little less so now that the two players are playing so often in this season’s NBA thick sheet this season. LaMelo discovers from his big brother’s mistakes and gets interesting advice.
“It’s been through,” LaMelo said. “So he’s already got the test answers.”
Lonzo’s most important piece of advice is to stay mostly in the gym.
“The NBA is a long season full of relegation,” he said. “Just take one game at a time and make sure you keep getting your ice in. In addition, he has been playing basketball all his life. He’s been with me all his life, so there aren’t too many different things I have to tell a child like that. It has already been under scrutiny for a long time. He knows how to handle everything. He has a good head on his shoulders. ”
As for the feelings of their first NBA game against each other, the two brothers agreed that they will be more focused on the action at hand on the court.
“If someone is feeling something, it might be my family,” LaMelo said. “Maybe it’s the ones who get the most out of it. Maybe he and I will go out there and try to win for our team. “
There weren’t too many brothers who have been playing in the league at the same time, and there are fewer such highs. It is safe to say that so far they have met these expectations and will now be able to focus on a national television game that may seem like a better outcome. Family Member.
“We always knew we were going to the league and now the time has come,” said LaMelo. “We’re both excited.”