The Los Angeles Lakers have changed their identity a lot over the past year, going from a rebuilding young team, to a team that could well be within a chance of winning the NBA title next season.

One player that has been a part of both stages at the Lakers is Lonzo Ball. Ball was supposed to be the new face of the team after being drafted second overall by the franchise last year.

However, the point guard has now slipped behind LeBron James as the face of the Lakers. It may have taken the pressure off Ball for now, but he's still expected to be a star for the franchise's future.

Isaiah Thomas was with the Lakers briefly during the second half of last season and got a first-hand look at the development of Ball in Los Angeles.

During a recent appearance on Tiki and Tierney, the now Denver Nuggets star said that although he doubts Ball’s shooting motion will ever be fixed, he believes he will become a special player in the NBA. 

He said, via Clutch Sports: “Lonzo is a great kid. I don’t think they’re going to be able to fix his jump shot, but they can work with him and get it better than how it is right now.

"He’s a talented, talented young player that’s going to be special in this league because he has the tools to be special.”

Ball wasn't very impressive in his first season in the league. He shot just 36.0 percent from the field and recorded a terrible 30.5 shooting percentage from behind the arc.

The point guard did manage a solid rookie stat line of 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game, and with a superstar like LeBron on his team, these stats can only improve as he prepares to enter his second season.

Ball is only 20-years-old, so time is on his side to improve, but if he wants the Lakers to pick up his team option at the end of the 2018-19 season, he's going to have to perform on the court next season.

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