As a Brooklyn-born analyst raised on streetball grit and Columbia-trained precision, I’ve watched the Lakers quietly pursue Lonzo Ball not for his stats—but for the unspoken rhythm of his game. His defense isn’t just effort; it’s anticipation. His passing isn’t flashy—it’s forensic. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a tactical signal buried in 35 games of 2024-25: 7.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 36.6% FG, 34.4% 3PT. They didn’t trade for him because he scored. They traded because he thinks before he shoots.