Lakers Notes: Ball, Nance Jr., Lopez

Lonzo Ball has been hailed as one of the NBA's next great point guards, and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie took part in his first pro practice Tuesday. There

Lonzo Ball has been hailed as one of the NBA's next great point guards, and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie took part in his first pro practice Tuesday.

There were few questions about his ability to handle the ball, pass and run an offense. He has NBA skills in that department already.

But Lakers coach Luke Walton wants the team to improve defensively -- and that is where the doubts sometimes come in about Ball.

So, how was he?

“Lonzo was good,” Walton told reporters. “He’s got length too. So a lot of what we’re trying to do, a huge part of defense is communicating, talking. He got louder as the day went on. He’s got length to where when he jumps up and contests a shot he can make people miss. By the end of practice he was doing that so it was good to see.”

Meanwhile, Ball said he noticed right away that practice was "more physical" than his UCLA days. But he likened Walton to Bruins coach Steve Alford, and that theory could make the transition to the pros a bit easier.

“We actually met before media day, talked about the goals, got everything out there, fired everybody up. … Have a Lakers mentality," Ball told reporters of the coaching staff and his new teammates. "Basically they said it starts with defense, defensive grit. Challenge one another and then go on the court and make people fear you."

Here is more out of Los Angeles:

• Exciting and athletic Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. is only 24 years old, but told reporters he plans to take on more of a leadership role. And now he's ready to win. “I can’t wait,” Nance said. “Hearing all that tanking talk [last year] is like nails on the chalkboard to a competitor. I don’t even want to play if tanking is on the table. … This season is about improvement and wins. And getting to be the best team and having the best chemistry that we can possibly have and getting everybody to play the best that they can play. That’s what I’ve been waiting for. … I, for one, am ecstatic. I’m eager. I wish the first game was tomorrow.”
• Neither Brook Lopez nor Andrew Bogut could practice on Day One, according to the LA Times. Lopez is suffering back spasms and Bogut, fighting for the final spot on the roster, is having visa issues.