When JaVale McGee saw how aggressive Lonzo Ball was as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James’ return to Ohio, he felt vindicated.
“That’s what we’ve been telling him,” McGee told reporters on Spectrum Sportsnet after the game, before repeating the advice he’s been giving Ball. “Just be aggressive, man!”
Ball’s aggressiveness was a theme of the postgame remarks from Lakers’ players and coaches, and in addition to creating buzz in the locker room, Ball’s efforts resulted in one of his better stat lines of the year: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and a team-high plus-minus of +16 in the Lakers’ 109-105 win.