Lonzo Ball says he would rather be Laker than No. 1 overall pick

The Ball family continues to produce the hot takes.

In an interview on ESPN’s “SportsNation” on Thursday, Lonzo Ball was asked if he would rather be a Los Angeles Laker or the No. 1 overall pick in next June’s NBA draft.

“I’m gonna go with the Lakers,” said the star UCLA point guard. “I’m just a family dude, all my family lives in L.A., so to be able to play in front of them, I think that would mean more to me.”

Ball’s perspective is understandable. He was born and raised in Southern California and attended nearby Chino Hills High School before going on to Westwood to play for UCLA. The Lakers also have a decent chance of keeping their top-three protected pick next June, and they are now run by one of the greatest point guards of all-time in Magic Johnson, who would be an ideal mentor for Ball at the position, as his father LaVar has pointed out before.

But with the growing rivalry between Ball and fellow top prospect Markelle Fultz for No. 1 overall pick consideration, it’s an interesting window into Ball’s mindset heading into the last couple of months before the draft.