Even though Lonzo Ball is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, nor a teammate of LeBron James, he still has a positive outlook on his time with the player who he grew up idolizing.

Ball, who was traded along with Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade, is still thankful for the mentorship he was able to receive from LeBron in their lone season together. Ball said that LeBron was his best mentor during an appearance on the podcast of California Baptist University head coach Rick Croy.

(H/T to our colleague Jacob Rude at Lonzo Wire)

“The person who’s mentored me the most in the last year is probably LeBron. Just being with him pretty much the whole year: same team, same bus, same hotel. I was just always with him and just picking up what I can from the greatest to ever play.”

The connection between Ball and James was evident from their first preseason together. Ball assisted on 40 baskets of LeBron’s in just 34 games together, which was second only Rajon Rondo’s 43 assists to LeBron. Also, nobody assisted on more of Lonzo’s baskets last year than LeBron, who helped Lonzo score 34 of his 185 made field goals last season with the Lakers.

Many believed that their strong connection would lead to Lonzo Ball joining Rich Paul and Klutch Sports after he left his previous agent, but Ball, as well as his former Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma, would end up joining another powerhouse agency in CAA.