Lonzo Ball Makes Bold Claim About New Orleans Pelicans Tenure

Lonzo Ball made a strong claim about his play during his time with the Pelicans.

Dec 18, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Lonzo Ball has had a unique NBA career.

The former UCLA superstar began his career as the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, he was traded just two seasons later (in a deal to land the Lakers with Anthony Davis).

Ball spent two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, and he recently made a bold claim about his tenure with the franchise (via the WAE Show, h/t NBACentral).

Ball: "Every time I catch my stride, something goes wrong. I'm not gonna cap. Either I get hurt, or that one year I was in New Orleans just COVID came out of nowhere. You look back at that month before COVID, if you was to ask me, I think I'm the best point guard in the league."

Lonzo Ball says he felt like he was the best point guard in the league during the month before COVID shut down the season

(🎥 @TheWAEShow / h/t @CourtsideBuzzX)
pic.twitter.com/ALXQxN4HXF

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 20, 2024

Many fans will likely disagree with Ball ever being the best point guard in the NBA.

That said, he finished the season (2019-20) with averages of 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 41.4% from the field and 37.8% from the three-point range in 55 games.

Via Courtside Buzz: "Lonzo in 5 games before the shutdown: 20.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 54.3 FG%, 51.5 3P%; NOLA: 2-3 record"

Lonzo Ball on himself before Covid-19 shut the league down in 2019-20:

“Every time I catch my stride, something goes wrong. That month before Covid, if you ask me, I think I’m the best point guard in the league.”

Lonzo in 5 games before the shutdown: 20.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.8… pic.twitter.com/KYXZ1JBFAY

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) August 20, 2024

Ball is currently a member of the Chicago Bulls, but he has been unable to play in a game since the 2021-22 season.

Over five seasons, the 26-year-old has career averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 40.0% from the field and 36.4% from the three-point range in 252 games.