No singular person has attracted as large of a spotlight as LaVar Ball in the past few months. The father of Lonzo Ball, a UCLA prospect expected to be a top-three pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, LaVar has become known for his brash, cocky, and, at times, off-putting behavior.
Ball has been confident about his son’s abilities, as well as those of his younger children who also play basketball. He has created a brand for his children, even releasing signature shoes for Lonzo before he ever steps foot on an NBA court after getting denied by major shoe companies. The price figure on the new shoes ($495) was a perfect microcosm of what Ball has sought to create as his son’s fame has exponentially grown.
All of this attention has hit the basketball world like a tidal wave, leaving many wondering if LaVar’s reputation will hurt Lonzo as he hopes to create his own mark in the NBA. Many have even speculated that at some point the 19-year-old will have to move on from his father’s reach.
But Lonzo does not seem at all interested in that path. In a feature written by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Lonzo has nothing but admiration to show for his outspoken dad:
“I do all my playing on the court,” he says. “He can say whatever he wants off of it.”
When pushed a little harder, Lonzo mounts a loyal defense of his father.
“He’s been here my whole life. I wouldn’t be here without him,” Lonzo says. “So if I go back on him, that’s like going back on what I’ve been doing my whole life, and I don’t think that’s right.”
This whole dynamic is a complicated one and it’s really tough to mount a major opinion. The elder Ball’s antics can be tiring (oh, so tiring) but it does not seem his children mind at all. At some point, we have to realize that that’s the most important thing.
The whole feature is worth a read as Lonzo speaks about the Lakers and dealing with his mom’s recent stroke.
