Kerr rips Ball over Luke jabs
Golden State coach Steve Kerr called LaVar Ball “the Kardashian of the NBA” on Monday night, and said he thinks the father of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has zero credibility.
Disgusted, Kerr made his remarks before the Warriors’ game against Denver. He was asked about LaVar Ball after the demonstrative dad told ESPN that the Lakers no longer want to play for coach Luke Walton, a dear Kerr friend and former top assistant with the Warriors.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, has called the ESPN article “a disgrace” and LaVar Ball’s comments an “ignorant distraction.”
“Somewhere, I guess in Lithuania, LaVar Ball is laughing at all of us. People are eating out of his hands for no apparent reason, other than he’s become like the Kardashian of the NBA or something,” Kerr said. “And that sells, and that’s what’s true in politics and entertainment and now in sports. It doesn’t matter if there’s any substance involved with an issue, it’s just can we make it really interesting for no apparent reason? There is nothing interesting about that story.”
l Andrew Wiggins had 25 points in three quarters, Jimmy Butler pitched in 21 points and tight defense on LeBron James, and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 127-99 victory over Cleveland that stopped a 12-game home losing streak to the Cavaliers.
Karl-Anthony Towns (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Taj Gibson (16 points, 13 rebounds) were tenacious around the basket for the Timberwolves, who outrebounded the Cavs 56-37 and had a 60-42 advantage in points in the paint. James had just 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting
KNIGHT CHARGES DROPPED
Prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia, have dropped a misdemeanor assault charge against former Met Ray Knight.
The 64-year-old Knight was charged back in October after police were called to his home in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County for a reported fight with a 33-year-old acquaintance. Both men had visible injuries.
The Washington Post reported Monday that prosecutors dropped the charge after the parties involved reached a deal on their own.
Knight spent 13 seasons in the majors, mostly with Cincinnati and the Mets.
l The Trenton Thunder’s bat-retrieving dog, Home Run Derby, died of cancer, the team announced on Twitter.
The team will celebrate Derby Day on Jan. 26, on what would have been his 10th birthday.
NINERS HIRE NORTON JR.
The San Francisco 49ers have hired former Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. as an assistant head coach.
Coach Kyle Shanahan announced the move Monday. He says Norton will become an assistant coach for defense and will be in charge of inside linebackers.
Norton was fired as defensive coordinator in Oakland after 10 games this season. He had held the job since 2015.
COLLINS IN COLLEGE HALL
Former Giants quarterback Kerry Collins of Penn State and coaches Frank Beamer and Mack Brown were selected Monday to the College Football Hall of Fame, part of a class of 13 that includes former players Ed Reed and Calvin Johnson.