So Lonzo isn't going to abandon his father like the media want him to

[GilSho]

Lonzo on his father's comments so far: “It’s funny for me. I just look at it and laugh. I know how he’s been since Day 1, it’s just that now all of America gets to see him because he’s on the TV all the time... I just hope he stays the same. I don’t want my dad to change.”

That part in particular stood out to me.....


The entire article is a dope read if you're interested though.

Steve Alford didn’t hesitate when asked about Lonzo Ball’s enthusiastic and controversial father, LaVar.

Was LaVar Ball around the team much?

“Zero,” Alford said.

Was he ever at practice?

“Never at practice,” Alford said. “Never at practice; never called me.”

Did he ever try to meddle in your coaching?

“Never,” Alford said.

It’s a subject interesting many as the Lakers figure out who they will take with the second overall pick in next month’s draft. Some wonder if LaVar Ball’s comments could hurt Lonzo in the draft process or even once he enters the NBA.

The Lakers might be undeterred. They like Lonzo. As part of their study of the top players in the draft, they will call Alford, the UCLA men’s basketball coach, to ask what kind of presence LaVar had with his team. More than anything, though, they’ll evaluate Lonzo Ball the player — independent of his outspoken father.

“I am aware of some of the comments of Lonzo’s dad, and I think he’s someone who’s passionate about his son,” said Jeanie Buss, the Lakers controlling owner. “I admire that. In my long history there was a time when I was heavily involved in tennis promotion, so I dealt with a lot of the tennis players’ parents. Their commitment to their kids rivals LaVar Ball’s connection to his own children.”

When they actually got to know him, they liked him too much to truly haze him.

Last season, when asked if he ever asked his father to cut back on the opinions, Luke deadpanned: “My entire life.”

He added: “Normally, I say it while he’s talking. I don’t know if he even knows that I’m talking to him.”

Many around the NBA expect a similar target placed on Lonzo.

LaVar has angered some NBA players with his comments, including Cavaliers stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

When Irving suggested LaVar back off from his son, LaVar responded by saying Irving wasn’t a father and so didn’t understand. He also mentioned Irving having grown up without his mother. Irving actually has a daughter, and his mother died when he was 4.

LaVar’s bold statements have included claims that Lonzo is better than Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, that he himself could have beaten Michael Jordan in his prime, and that UCLA might have fared better in the NCAA tournament were it not for their preponderance of “slow-footed white guys.”

When asked, the team’s two best white guys — TJ Leaf and Thomas Welsh — said they weren’t bothered by LaVar’s comments. They also loved playing with Lonzo, who was soft -spoken but grew more comfortable being vocal as the season progressed. And who played unselfishly.

A teammate who led the NCAA in assists is easy to like.

“It was a blast playing with him,” Leaf said. “We’re still very close. We talk all the time. I’m close with him and his family. Obviously his dad is pretty bold in what he says, but it’s his father. He loves him. At the end of the day he wants what’s best for his son.”

Some whispers of interference surfaced at Chino Hills, where Lonzo played in high school and his brothers play now. LaVar sometimes yelled instructions during games to his sons. One coach, Steve Baik, resigned after Lonzo’s senior year when Chino Hills went 35-0. Baik said his resignation was not about LaVar. Another, Stephan Gilling, was replaced after clashing last season with LaVar, who has said he had nothing to do with the firing.

LaVar’s presence changed at UCLA, a school with 45,000 students and 11 men’s basketball national championships.

“I think all parents probably should know that moving on to the collegiate level anyway,” Alford said. “It’s not high school, it’s not AAU. Your son’s on scholarship; your son’s at UCLA getting an incredible opportunity academically and athletically.

“Playing time, shots, that kind of stuff — we don’t entertain some of those phone calls anyway. I never had any issues at all with LaVar.”

There was some internal concern about the effect of the family’s shoe and merchandise business, Big Baller Brand, on NCAA compliance.

“We always work very closely with the NCAA to make sure — compliance is the most important thing,” UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said.

Overall, the school was pleased by their experience with Lonzo. Guerrero and Alford describe him as a player who didn’t skip classes and enjoyed his year at UCLA.

Lonzo seems amused by many of his father’s comments.

“It’s funny for me,” Lonzo said in April. “I just look at it and laugh. I know how he’s been since Day 1, it’s just that now all of America gets to see him because he’s on the TV all the time. I know he loves exposure, so it’s good for him and I just hope he stays the same. I don’t want my dad to change.”

The Lakers have drafted players younger than Lonzo before. He’ll be 20 for most of his rookie season, whereas Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac and D’Angelo Russell were all 19 for most of theirs. Kobe Bryant turned 18 after he was drafted.

Parents aren’t usually part of the equation, but the Lakers will do their research on Lonzo’s vociferous dad.

When they call Alford, he knows what he’ll say.

“I’ll talk to them like I’m talking to you,” Alford said. “He was terrific. I had no dealings with him at all. He let me coach his son, didn’t get in the way at all.”

How involved would LaVar Ball actually be if the Lakers drafted Lonzo?

 

[Remote]

 

[I AM WARHOL]

Oh just wait. It's still early. I'm betting by year 4 Lonzo gives Lavar the "what do you mean 'our' money" talk

 

[El Coupeacabra]

White media (aka white supremacy) does NOT like strong black father figures. Much less ones that have actually done a successful job of raising potential millionaires.

If they can't shut Lavar up, plan B will be to seperate him from his family.

 

[Cel 510 kid ados forever]

Weird cacs and c00ns want him to leave his dad he knows his dad like no other

 

[Swagnificent]

White media (aka white supremacy) does NOT like strong black father figures. Much less ones that have actually done a successful job of raising potential millionaires.

If they can't shut Lavar up, plan B will be to seperate him from his family.

Exactly. LaVar destroys their narrative that black men don't raise their kids. They don't want this image of a strong black father becoming the norm.

 

[FaTaL]

White media (aka white supremacy) does NOT like strong black father figures. Much less ones that have actually done a successful job of raising potential millionaires.

If they can't shut Lavar up, plan B will be to seperate him from his family.

Chipmunk

• FaTaL
• Dec 15, 2015

 

[Emoryal]

The Media gives Lavar a platform and he speaks his opinion. He controlled the program at the high school level because the school allowed and he started a business for his sons. The NBA has nothing to do with Lavar and it will stay that way. Not that this was ever a question.

 

[Momentum]

Oh just wait. It's still early. I'm betting by year 4 Lonzo gives Lavar the "what do you mean 'our' money" talk

You mean in 4 years when BBB is worth 9 figures

 

[BXKingPin82]

Be careful out there Lavar

 

[Rell84shots]

His dad has been with him every step of the way, they want Lavar out so they can get their hooks into Lonzo. If we ever hear about Lavar being killed in a car crash just know it wasn't an accident.

 

[licktheballs]

 

[King Poetic]

He knows what these people trying to do

His dad won't disappear like these companies if he get in a bind..

Look at the sponsers when kobe got hit up with rape...look at companies who threw tiger over the bridge..

 

[Listen]

You gotta be trying real hard not to see that Lavar is something extra and I high doubt the narrative would be much different if he was another race.