LeBron and LaVar cannot coexist in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – Forget about team chemistry when LeBron James officially joins the Lakers. The most interesting science experiment will be off the court. LeBron James, meet LaVar Ball. Of course, these two men need no introduction. A personal beef might linger, thanks to LaVar Ball, father of Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball.
On March 10, as a guest on the “In the Zone with Chris Broussard” podcast, LaVar Ball suggested his sons would have an easier path to stardom than would LeBron’s.
“The monsters in the NBA, their dads wasn’t that good,” LaVar Ball said. “They were OK, they was players, but the fact that the old (Dell) Curry wasn’t no AllStar, he wasn’t cold. He could shoot the ball, though. Kobe Bryant, his dad wasn’t all that, that’s why he’s such a monster.
“You got LeBron, it’s going to be hard for his kids because they are going to look at them like, ‘You got to be just like your dad.’ And after a while, that pressure starts sitting on you like, ‘Why do I got to be just like him? What can’t I just be me?’
“And then they are going to be like, ‘Aw, you’re soft, you’re not that good.’ Because the expectation is very, very high.”
LeBron fired back at LaVar in an interview with ESPN.
“Keep my kids’ name out of your mouth,” LeBron said. “Keep my family out of your mouth. This is dad to dad. It’s a problem now.”
More than three months later, it’ll continue to be a problem depending on LaVar Ball’s mouth. Oh, that mouth.
It might be the biggest, brashest and now most dangerous mouth in the NBA.
Dangerous enough to get Lonzo Ball shipped out of town or, if the Lakers decide to keep their young point guard, dangerous enough to destabilize the Lakers.
But this isn’t a mano a mano battle. LeBron is in charge. He can help make Lonzo Ball a star or get him shipped to a desert island.
Not that LaVar Ball is looking for advice, but we’ll give him some anyway: The next time you feel an impulse to share your thoughts about LeBron, LeBron’s kids, or Magic or the Lakers, shut your mouth.