In the second game of tonight's NBA double-header on ESPN, John Wall and the Washington Wizards will go head to head against Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center - and Wall is ready to welcome the 19-year old rookie into the league with "no mercy."
It goes without saying that Lonzo walks into every game with a target on his chest, thanks to his dad LaVar, and tonight's matchup against the 4x NBA All-Star won't be any different.
When Wall was asked earlier in the week if he would take it lightly on Ball, despite his father's comments, he said, "Nah, no mercy."
Per NBA.com,
“Certain matchups you really get up for. Like when you play [Golden State Warriors guard] Steph [Curry], you definitely want to have a good game,” Wall said. “I’m playing against [Ball]. [Gortat] said what he said about me. I didn’t say anything. His dad has been talking. … That makes me want to go out there and lead my team and play the best I can play.”
“We didn’t say nothing about him, nothing to him, and he says, ‘The Wizards better be ready because he don’t ever lose two in a row,’” Wall continued. “Like, this is the league now. It’s a different ballgame.”
Earlier in the week, LaVar Ball had this to say about the Lakers' upcoming game against the Wizards.
“Washington coming in here Wednesday? They better beware. Because Lonzo ain’t losing again! Not in the same week!”
LaVar's comments made the rounds on social media, and Wizards center Marcin Gortat couldn't resist chiming in on John Wall's behalf.
Gortat added that Lonzo's a "good kid" and a "talented kid" but it's him, not his father, that has to deal with the league's most talented point guards.
Per NBA.com,
“I’m just sticking up for my teammate and my team,” Gortat said. “The guy is going to go public and say stuff like that. It’s funny because he’s not even playing and he’s saying all this stuff, you know. He’s just putting his son in a spot, but at the end of the day, it’s all right. It’s nothing against Lonzo. I don’t know him. He’s a good kid. Talented kid, but he’s got to go against John.”
In three games this season, Lonzo is averaging 13.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists in a little over 34 minutes per game.
Tonight's game between the Wizards, 3-0, and Lakers, 1-2, is scheduled to tip-off at 10:30pm ET, airing on ESPN and the WatchESPN app.
https://twitter.com/_/status/923205319769100288