Lakers Video: Kobe Bryant Open To Picking LiAngelo Ball In 2018 NBA Draft ‘If It’ll Help Win’

Corey Hansford
2 Min Read


The Los Angeles Lakers are already hard at work preparing for next month’s NBA Draft. With the 25th and 47th overall selections, the team will be looking to continue their recent history of success in the latter portion of the draft.

One person who is eligible for the draft is LiAngelo Ball, brother of Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball. LiAngelo isn’t currently ranked on ESPN’s top 100 prospects list and most believe he won’t be drafted by anyone.

LaVar Ball, of course, still has grand plans on all three of his sons playing together on the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant isn’t necessarily against the plan, albeit with a bit of a caveat.

The TMZ cameras caught up with Kobe briefly and asked him who he thinks the Lakers should draft.

This response shouldn’t come as any shock as winning was always the most important thing that Kobe cared about. If a player can help the Lakers be successful, Kobe believes the team should draft him, simple as that.

Bryant responded, as expected, by saying the franchise should draft whoever will help them win. When asked if they should draft another Ball brother, Bryant didn’t shoot the idea down if it means taking a positive step toward winning.

Whether that player is LiAngelo remains to be seen. For the most part, he was viewed as the least-talented of the three Ball brothers and the one who needed to develop in college the most. The Lakers have begun their pre-draft workouts and LiAngelo has yet to receive one, though there is plenty of time for that to change.

The main question, as Kobe noted, is whether LiAngelo will help the Lakers win. The franchise will undoubtedly do their homework and find out that answer. For his part, Ball has said he’s focused on the Lakers.

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Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
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