With Hornets phenom LaMelo Ball set to make his Staples Center debut tonight against LeBron James and the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers (a prospect the 19-year-old yawned at earlier this week), attention-loving patriarch LaVar Ball predictably made the media rounds Thursday, joining ESPN Los Angeles for a memorable appearance on Mason & Ireland. What came next was 15 minutes of crazy with the outspoken 53-year-old bringing his usual supply of delusional takes, claiming LiAngelo—the only of his sons not currently in the NBA—to be the best of the almighty Ball contingent.
“It’s a political thing,” said LaVar, alluding to a league-wide conspiracy to keep LiAngelo out of the NBA. “They were not going to let Gelo get drafted because that would set a precedent like LaVar is running the whole thing. They ain’t have to go to college and this and that.”
When asked why he didn’t want LaMelo to be drafted by Golden State (the Warriors chose James Wiseman instead with Melo going to the Hornets one pick later), LaVar said he was skeptical of Steve Kerr, who he views as an inferior coach. “You ain’t coaching. You’re just standing up,” said Ball, implying Kerr’s success has largely come on the coattails of Hall-of-Fame talents like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. “I could coach them with my eyes closed.” Moments after mocking Kerr and his laissez-faire stylings, Ball quickly contradicted himself, proclaiming that “less coaching is the best coaching.”
LaVar also felt Kerr was too much of a disciplinarian for his taste and didn’t think LaMelo would respect him. “He’s going to hold something against my son if he starts doing some stuff, and he’s going to say, ‘We don’t do that around here.’ Now you got Melo trying to play the game, listening to me and the guy he works for. You can’t perform like that.”
When the subject eventually turned to Lonzo, LaVar didn’t hold back. “He can’t stand New Orleans,” said Ball, clearly frustrated with Lonzo’s role on the Pelicans. “Lonzo’s always been a playmaker. Why are you trying to change him into a defensive specialist that stays in the corner and shoots threes?” LaVar also criticized Lonzo’s All-Star teammates Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, asserting that neither are “playmakers.”
“I don’t know what they’re going to do,” said LaVar when asked if he expects Lonzo to be dealt at next week’s trade deadline. “I hope they trade him though.”
During the interview, Steve Mason told LaVar the ZO2 sneakers he ordered from Big Baller Brand (list price $495) in 2017 still haven’t arrived. That should entitle Mason to at least a refund, though knowing LaVar, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
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