Lonzo Ball learned via Twitter that he had been traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans.
But Ball is not bitter about being included in the Anthony Davis blockbuster. If anything, he told ESPN in a story published Sunday, he is grateful for the change of scenery.
“I was kind of excited, honestly,” Ball told ESPN when asked about his first reaction to the trade. “I kind of figured someone was going to get moved soon enough. I knew Anthony Davis wanted to come bad. Anytime you can get a guy like that, you are going to have to do what you have to do to get him. So I was kind of already just waiting for it, honestly, and I was happy to go with two guys I am comfortable with in B.I. (Brandon Ingram) and J-Hart (Josh Hart). I am excited to see what we can do.
“I tell people when I was a rookie, I probably would have been sad. Just being from L.A., having my whole family here and wanting to be a Laker. But being in the league for two years, knowing it’s a business, as long you get to play, that’s a blessing in itself. I’m excited to get started.”
Ball, 21, averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 47 games (45 starts) last season with Los Angeles. That followed a rookie campaign in which he averaged 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 52 games (50 starts).
Throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Ball was the subject of trade speculation.
“Yeah, I’ve been hearing my name for two years now,” he told ESPN. “So it didn’t bother me at all. We were all ready for it.”
