LaVar Ball has some thoughtz and feelz about Lonzo Ball’s thoughtz and feelz about the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent five-game losing streak.
Shocking, I know.
Here’s what LaVar said, courtesy of SiriusXM NBA Radio:
“He’s disgusted, he’s not used to losing like this. The
#Lakers should build around Lonzo. Why are they sitting him down and not starting him the 4th quarter? This is why the record is raggedy.”
Oh.
Yes, the Lakers are 8-15, their flimsy playoff hopes fading fast. Their defense has dropped to eighth in points allowed per 100 possessions, a stellar mark that pales in comparison to their early-season stinginess. And sure, Ball isn’t always the focal point. The Lakers embrace something bearing more resemblance to an equal-opportunity offense, in which a multitude of players have the freedom to attack and jumpstart pick-and-rolls.
But, like, come on. These comments feel a bit destructive, if only because of what might happen when someone tries to read between the lines. Is he saying Lonzo is actually disgusted with how the Lakers are using him, or just the losing in general? Is he implying that Lonzo believes they’d be better off investing more usage in him, even if it comes at the expense of touches for Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope?
See the danger of making these comments? It almost compels you to support the Lakers implementing a “LaVar Ball Rule” that disallows media members from talking with family members and agents and players courtside before and after the games. (But only almost.)
Personally, I’m genuinely curious about what LaVar is trying to accomplish here. Never mind commentary on his parenting or anything like that. What is he actually trying to gain by expressing disdain for the Lakers’ current spot on behalf of Lonzo? Most people probably understand LaVar only speaks for LaVar at this point, but not everyone. And these particular sentiments, wherein he insinuates Lonzo is feeling a certain way, come off as more unnecessarily destructive than anything.
