On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks(7-4) had a lead after one quarter against the Chicago Bulls. However, the Bulls would take over from there. Behind Lonzo Ball’s 21 points, including seven threes and Zach LaVine’s 23 points, the Bulls(8-3) defeated Dallas 117-107 at United Center to end Dallas’ three-game winning streak.
Before the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd discussed Ball, who, like Kidd, struggled early on his career with his shot, but like Kidd, appears to have turned himself into a decent shooter, which was on display Wednesday night.
As a rookie, Ball shot .306% from three-point range. Last season with the Pelicans, Ball bumped that up to .378% from downtown, and after 11 games this season, Ball is shooting .447% from three-point range.
Kidd had a similar career. He shot 27.2% from downtown as a rookie, but ultimately, Kidd became a competent shooter and got over 40% from three-point range later in his career. Currently, Kidd is 12th all-time in three-pointers made.
The Hall of Famer is impressed with Ball’s worth ethic and his growth as a shooter.
“One, it tells you that he’s working on his game,” Kidd said about Ball. “And two, I think it just shows that, sometimes, when I see we, we just need time. Sometimes, we want it to be instant. We have instant oatmeal; we have a lot of instant meals, but unfortunately, it takes time…
“When you look at Ball and what he’s done, he works on his game, his craft, and sometimes, we want it on day one, and unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way; we’re human. He’s human. I love that he hasn’t listened to the noise, and he continued to work.”
Not many thought Kidd would become the shooter he became later in his career, and now Ball is hoping to do the same.
Best of the Rest:
-Dallas gets back at it on Friday night when they head to San Antonio to battle the Spurs. After San Antonio, the Mavericks return home on Monday to face Denver before heading out on a four-game road trip.
-Dallas had five players in double figures against Chicago led by Kristaps Porzingis’ 22 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 points, including five threes. Luka Doncic(6/18 FG) struggled with his shot; he had 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.
