There aren’t a lot of members remaining from the NBA’s previous generation, but the Los Angeles Lakers recently faced off with the two oldest active players, Vince Carter and Manu Ginobili. Both remain productive players despite their age and have shown it off all season.
One player who has been impressed is rookie point guard Lonzo Ball who undoubtedly grew up watching both in their prime. It was Ball’s first chance to square off against both and he admittedly came away impressed.
“I looked up to them and now I get to play them, it’s kind of like they have to pass the torch,” he said. “They had a great career, both of them.
“It’s crazy, we watched some tape on him, and he’s still doing the Euro-steps, getting in the lane. It’s amazing. And Vince Carter, he went down the lane and dunked it. It’s just crazy seeing those guys take care of their bodies and still being able to play.”
Carter and Ginobli each had solid games against the Lakers and showed flashes of their old selves. Carter had seven points, three steals, and three blocks, not to mention the huge dunk that caught Ball’s attention.
Meanwhile, Ginobili finished with eight points and four assists while showing his same crafty ability to get in the paint.
Most players are unable to have long careers at this level of play, so it’s certainly understandable that Ball is inspired by seeing the likes of Carter and Ginobili up close. As he said, taking care of their bodies is a big reason why they can still do these things.
Ball got to see another of the old guard on Saturday when the Lakers faced Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. For Ball and the Lakers, each of the three games have ended in a win.
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