Ball made Call
Loudmouth patriarch LaVar predicted mega-deal
Take that, haters. LaVar Ball was right about LeBron James. He’ll probably only remind us about that a few hundred times — before next season starts.
The attention-seeking father of Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball repeatedly said James would come to Los Angeles and on Sunday night, he was made to look prophetic as the best player in the world inked a fouryear, $154 million deal with Magic Johnson and Co.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen. I know it’s going to happen. I told you to call him L.A. ’Bron,” LaVar Ball said on FS1’s Undisputed on June 12. “For him to justify he’s the best player in the world ever, he’s got to win a couple more championships somewhere else.”
That was just the most recent occasion LaVar predicted James would be coming out West. He made similar comments to ESPN in January. As he likes to say, he spoke it into existence.
“Y’all really thought he was gonna pass up the greatest city in the world… #TheKingIsHere,” Lonzo tweeted.
LaVar, however, has had friction with James. On the In the Zone with Chris Broussard podcast in March 2017, LaVar said his sons were better set up for success in the sport because James’ kids will have too much to live up to.
“Keep my kids’ name out of your mouth. Keep my family out of your mouth,” James responded. “This is dad to dad. It’s a problem now.”
LaVar was on the “Big Boy’s Neighborhood” radio show recently, and was asked how LeBron could help his son if they did become teammates.
“Can LeBron teach him what?” LaVar said. “No, he can’t teach him nothing. I already taught him everything.”
Lonzo failed to make the all-rookie first team this year — his dad predicted he would be rookie of the year — shooting just 36 percent from the field. He did average 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds.
While the Lakers will likely have to part with some of their young players to land disgruntled Spurs star Kawhi Leonard, Lonzo doesn’t interest San Antonio, according to reports.
In other words, let the LaVar-LeBron drama begin.