On verge of lifelong NBA dream, Lonzo Ball ready for his moment

NEW YORK – Where the dad wants his son to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, the son just wants to play in the NBA.

“Whoever calls me, I’m going to be happy,” Lonzo Ball told USA TODAY Sports Tuesday evening.

Where the dad is brash, outspoken and cocky, the son is reserved, soft-spoken and humble.

“As long as we’re winning, I’ll be happy,” Ball said. “Whatever happens in my career, if we’re winning, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be good.”

Ball, who is expected to be the No. 2 pick by the Lakers in Thursday’s NBA draft, answered several questions about his dad, LaVar, at Wednesday’s news conference with top draft prospects.

The son is not always the same as the father.

Asked to explain the difference between him and his dad, Lonzo said, “He was raised in South Central (Los Angeles). I was raised in Chino Hills (Calif.). It’s a lot easier where I’m from.”

That dry humor was also on display in a recent Father’s Day Foot Locker commercial featuring prospects recalling special moments with their dads – games in the driveway and driving long-distance to basketball tournaments.

Then Lonzo Ball chimes in, “Of course there's that big day when your dad berates your high school coach in front of an entire crowd for not getting you enough touches.”

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It was a humorous spot, one that showed a self-deprecating side and provided a big exhale for all the real and faux controversies surrounding the Balls.

For as much as the dad has been front and center, this is the son’s moment.

“You have dreams about it when you’re little, and now it’s finally here,” Ball said. “It’s all a dream come true.”

And he has enjoyed it. “It’s a lot of fun, especially because my family is here to enjoy it with me,” Ball said. “They get to enjoy it with me. It’s just a happy time right now.”

Through this scrutinized journey from Chino Hills to UCLA to the NBA, Ball isn’t jaded. He just signed an endorsement deal with trading-card company Panini, and Ball, who collected trading cards as a kid, said, “It’s cool to have your own, and I’m just looking forward to getting my first card out there.”

His dad and younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, are in New York for the draft, and his mom, Tina, remained in California as she recovers from a stroke sustained in February.

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What’s lost in the hullabaloo surrounding the Ball family, Big Baller Brand, $500 sneakers and who would win a one-on-one game between LaVar and Michael Jordan is Lonzo Ball’s game – the very thing makes him one of the best players available in the draft.

“I bring leadership. I have a point guard mentality. I’m team-first and will do whatever I can to help the team win,” the 6-6 Ball said.

For UCLA last season, he averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and six rebounds and was USA TODAY Sports’ freshman of the year, becoming the first player to average those stats since Jason Kidd, who happens to be the player Ball is compared to most.

It appears he’s going to bring that talent to the Lakers, who on Tuesday reached a deal that will send point guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets, opening the door for the storied franchise to select Ball.

But Ball for the most part refused to say the name Lakers and did not acknowledge that the Lakers will select him on Thursday.

“The Lakers have a plan,” he said. “We’ll see what it is.”

Instead of saying Lakers, he called them the home team, but in a few moments of unguarded honesty, he made clear he would love to play for the famous local team.

“To able to put that jersey on and play for that team …,” Ball said.

He admitted he has attended only one Lakers game. It was four years ago, and it was against the Los Angeles Clippers, who were the home team. Asked why he didn’t attend any during this freshman season at UCLA, Ball said, “I was just in the gym working out at UCLA. I felt like that was more important.”

He put a fine point on his desire to improve. “You can always get better in the gym,” he said. “That’s what it’s for, and I’m always in there.”

Since the college season ended, he has trained in Chino Hills with his dad, getting stronger and working on his pick-and-roll game. He said the difference between college players and NBAers is strength and believes his skillset – court-vision, passing and shooting – will make him a productive pick-and-roll point guard.

“You get the passing aspect, plus you can get your shot off, too,” Ball said. “It’s about reading what’s happening, and I think I’m pretty good when it comes to that.”

Ball understands he may have a target on him when he gets to the NBA based on some of the things his dad has said, such as Ball being better than Golden State’s Steph Curry. Ball said he doesn’t care.

“I’ve been playing like that for a long time,” he said. “I’m used to it.”

He learned a valuable lesson from his dad, too.

“Just be confident in yourself and don’t worry about what people say about you,” Ball said. “I’ve known that for a long time. Everybody has an opinion. As long as you’re happy with yourself and look in the mirror and you smile, that’s all that really matters.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.