Charles Barkley Says Lonzo Ball Is Only ‘Half A Player,’ And His Take Actually Makes Sense

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Lonzo Ball’s stat line through 8 games: 9.1 ppg, 6.6 apg, 6.8 rpg. In his most recent game in a loss to Portland on national television, Lonzo had a dumpster fire of a game: posting 0 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 28 uninspired minutes. In 44 combined games in college at UCLA and in the pros with the Lakers, Ball had never failed to score a point, ESPN reports. He’s also the only starting point guard to be held scoreless in 25 or more minutes this season.

Obviously, it’s one game in what will likely be a long career and the dude isn’t even old enough to sip a beer, but at times Lonzo is flat-out passive. TNT analyst Charles Barkley had an uncommon stroke of brilliance when speaking about Lonzo’s early shortcomings as a player.

“He’s got this defect in his game because he can only shoot the ball from the left side of his body. So he can only shoot going left, because he can’t go right because he’s bringing the ball from over here. So he’s only half of a player right now and guys are taking half his body away.”

Ball is shooting a dismal 32.6 percent from the field through eight, and for the first time in a while, I’d have to agree with Barkley on his take. Lonzo’s gotta fix that slingshot or NBA defenders are going to make it difficult for him.

[h/t For the Win]

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.