LaVar Ball reckons he'd destroy MJ one-on-one

[[Q]]

video of Lavar playing basketball has surfaced, and it's not good

[Andrew]

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I doubt he could even beat the guy wearing the Michael Jordan Wizards jersey one-on-one.

[Dee4Three]

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I doubt he could even beat the guy wearing the Michael Jordan Wizards jersey one-on-one.

Well, turns out he was one hell of an athlete. After his freshman year at Washington State, he transferred out to another college (Not sure which Division), and averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. He also signed with the New York Jets in 1994 as a free agent. But I don't think he ever made the squad.

I wouldn't get carried away and say that he sucks, his claim that he could beat Jordan one on one is obviously insane though. Also, in this video, he is clearly quite a bit older, that looks like a mens league, that video is not from the 90's lol.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000795327/article/lavar-ball-couldnt-land-roster-spot-on-kotites-jets

I'm not exactly standing up for him, he's a loud mouth/cocky tool. But, let's not get carried away and say he stinks. You have to be one hell of an athlete to be looked at by NFL teams seriously (He got looked at by 2).

[Andrew]

I realise the video is more recent and he's not in his physical prime there. It was just a convenient jab, given that one of his opponents was wearing a Jordan jersey.

Sounds like he was pretty athletic for his size, but not particularly skilled; certainly not pro-level skilled, be it in basketball or football. Also, if this is the West Los Angeles College he transferred to, it's a community college in the Western State Conference. Not exactly Division I and the Pac-12, like his son.

[Dee4Three]

I realise the video is more recent and he's not in his physical prime there. It was just a convenient jab, given that one of his opponents was wearing a Jordan jersey.

Sounds like he was pretty athletic for his size, but not particularly skilled; certainly not pro-level skilled, be it in basketball or football. Also, if this is the West Los Angeles College he transferred to, it's a community college in the Western State Conference. Not exactly Division I and the Pac-12, like his son.

True. I wish he was more grounded, because he has some things to be proud about athletically in his life. I mean, how many people do you know that had the opportunities he had? (Division 1 basketball, chance at the NFL) etc.

[Andrew]

It makes a lot of sense, though. He got further than a lot of people do in terms of athletic pursuits, but still ended up well short of what he probably dreamed of. Sure, he starred for a community college playing against weaker competition, and he got a couple of tryouts with the NFL, but I'm sure he set the bar higher for himself. It's more than a lot of people accomplish, but it pales in comparison to the all-time NCAA, NBA, and NFL greats. And so, he lives vicariously through his sons, while making excuses and bold and bizarre hypothetical claims.

[Dee4Three]

It makes a lot of sense, though. He got further than a lot of people do in terms of athletic pursuits, but still ended up well short of what he probably dreamed of. Sure, he starred for a community college playing against weaker competition, and he got a couple of tryouts with the NFL, but I'm sure he set the bar higher for himself. It's more than a lot of people accomplish, but it pales in comparison to the all-time NCAA, NBA, and NFL greats. And so, he lives vicariously through his sons, while making excuses and bold and bizarre hypothetical claims.

Totally agree, I think he certainly looks to gain recognition through his sons. And, that is sad.

[I Hate Mondays]

LeBust James had 0.000 points in college. LaVar had 2.200 points in college. Nothing more to say.

I doubt he could even beat the guy wearing the Michael Jordan Wizards jersey one-on-one.

Special emphasis on the fact that it was a Jordan Wizards jersey

[Andrew]

LaVar would've made the jump from elementary school to the pros, if he could.

[Dee4Three]

Seems Lavar Ball has kind of turned into the new Chuck Norris of sports.

[Andrew]

Fictional LaVar quotes are quickly overtaking "3-1" memes. Except where the two are combined, of course.

[I Hate Mondays]

Seems Lavar Ball has kind of turned into the new Chuck Norris of sports.

Exactly. And in a couple of months they'll get old, just like the Chuck Norris jokes did (at least for me)

[Andrew]

Oh, of course. It doesn't take long for jokes to be run into the ground online.

[Andrew]

LaVar Ball: ‘Slow white guys’ kept UCLA from winning title, Lonzo played hurt in loss

“Realistically you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow,” Ball said. “I told Lonzo - ‘One of these games you might need to go for 30 or 40 points.' It turned out the that was the one game. Then once they get to the Elite 8, they’re right there.”

“People thought he was giving up, but he popped his hamstring,” LaVar Ball said of Lonzo in the game. “He said ‘I was trying to run, but my hamstring was pulled.’ But he’s never going to make excuses.”

Of course he doesn't have to make excuses; Daddy will make them for him. Look, scouts can say that Lonzo's stock won't be hurt by all this nonsense and teams don't care, and I suppose talent does trump character a lot of the time. However, if LaVar is still bleating about stuff like this when Lonzo is in the NBA, ripping on his teammates, the coach, and whoever else, there are going to be problems. If nothing else, if Lonzo finds himself as the NBA player whose father is basically doing the equivalent of yelling at the Little League coach to play his son more and that everyone else's kids are bums, none of his peers are going to have any respect for him. If he's not living up to the hype and his team is losing on top of that, fans and the media alike are not going to have any mercy, and rightfully so.

As for the "white players" comment, there's obviously a lot of talk about it being racist, and whether it would fly if the situation was reversed. I guess it is technically, though as a pasty white man of English and Irish descent, I can't pretend I'm particularly offended or anything; I just think it's asinine. If nothing else, it's an assertion that has been proven incorrect by various college and NBA teams over the years, and is obviously disrespectful to the other kids at UCLA who have worked and competed just as hard as his son did. On top of that, it's rather pathetically grabbing the spotlight back from the teams who did get further than UCLA, including of course the ultimate winners, North Carolina. Can't let anyone else have their moment, or attention for actually achieving something, I guess.

[Sauru]

"my boy can win with anyone. you give him any 4 players and he is going to come out with a W, except white people of course. fuck those guys"

[Andrew]

See, that's bringing logic and consistency into the equation, and braggarts don't deal in that.

Meanwhile, Michael Rapaport responds.

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[zzcoolj21]

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[Phil89]

http://www.espn.com.au/mens-college-bas ... lonzo-ball

An endorsement deal with Nike, Under Armour or Adidas is not in the cards for Lonzo Ball.

Ball's father, LaVar, confirmed that the three shoe and apparel companies informed him they were not interested in completing a deal with his son. Sources with the three companies told ESPN.com that they indeed were moving on.

Never in the history of modern-day shoe endorsements have the big companies all stepped away from a potential top pick nearly two months before the NBA draft. But LaVar, who has been representing Lonzo in the deal, has offered something that has no precedent.

In his meetings with all three companies, LaVar insisted that they license his upstart Big Baller Brand from him, according to the companies. He also showed the companies a shoe prototype that he hoped would be Lonzo's first shoe.

"We've said from the beginning, we aren't looking for an endorsement deal," LaVar told ESPN. "We're looking for co-branding, a true partner. But they're not ready for that because they're not used to that model. But hey, the taxi industry wasn't ready for Uber, either."


Last week, Nike consultant George Raveling, at SportsBusiness Journal's World Congress of Sports, called LaVar "the worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years."

[Andrew]

LaVar can spin it anyway he likes, but he messed up. He has no leverage here, no reason to be taken seriously. I can't say I feel sorry for him. Pride comes before a fall.

Michael Wilbon said it best on PTI. At some point, Lonzo has to respectfully, but firmly, tell his father to back off, and listen to people with actual marketing sense (and a proven track record of...well, anything, really). It won't be easy, but it'll be the smartest career move he's ever made. LaVar might be able to get away with his antics in AAU basketball, and he's even been able to get away with it in college. But it's not going to fly in the NBA; not without alienating Lonzo's coaches, management, and teammates. The overzealous Little League parent approach is not going to make Lonzo popular or respected, and like I said, if his play doesn't translate to the pro level...well, let's see how he deals with the fallout. LaVar's egotistical approach doesn't seem to be preparing him for setbacks and failure, something we all have to deal with and bounce back from at some point.

[volsey]

At first I thought it was a shame, but honestly it's probably for the better that it happened so quickly. Something like this could be the wake up call needed for either his father to back off, or for someone with some common sense to advice Lonzo to ask him to step away from the professional side of his career.

I genuinely can't imagine having to negotiate with the man; and in a business with plenty of competition, you kind of have to take every opportunity that you're granted. Pushing these guys off straight off the bat doesn't bode well for his future endorsement deals.

[Andrew]

I don't think LaVar is ever going to get it, sadly.

[[Q]]

Yeah hopefully this is a wakeup call that Lonzo needs. Hopefully he'll realize he's an adult now and distance himself at least professionally from his father.

The question was posed: Who will sign him? I guess Li Ning hasn't said no yet

[Andrew]

Didn't you hear? It's just going to Big Baller Brand. It's going to overtake all other brands in sales and put them out of business. They'll be begging to sign Lonzo once he's averaging 60, 20, 15, 10, and 10, as his team goes undefeated and LaVar runs the NBA, just as he said he would.

[bowdown]

You think Lavar Ball is crazy but this is exactly how Donald Trump acts and he won the presidency. Both are good con men is what I'm saying.

[Andrew]

Oh, I don't disagree. There's a method to the madness, no doubt. I still find it repugnant in both cases, though.

[Bruce]

this video about the eldest Ball brother shot in gonzo/reality TV style just shows how much of a joke LaVar is, and how he would really be more at home with the Kardashians than anything remotely related to the NBA.

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[Sauru]

You think Lavar Ball is crazy but this is exactly how Donald Trump acts and he won the presidency. Both are good con men is what I'm saying.

at least trump has accomplishments of his own and does not have to live through his children.


still i think lavar is a genius, his kid is about to be a top 3 pick in the nba draft and he is somehow more famous

[Andrew]

From the one and only Shady00018!

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[Andrew]

LaVar Ball Says Michael Jordan Isn't Lonzo, Couldn't Sell $495 Sneakers

LaVar Ball is saying things on television again. The former college baller, current father of NBA prospect Lonzo Ball and proprietor of Big Baller Brand appeared on Fox Sports 1's Undisputed program Monday, defending the BBB's $495 debut shoe.

When asked by panelists why they chose to hit a price point not even reached by Michael Jordan's famed Jordan Brand, LaVar said, “Because he ain’t Lonzo Ball, that’s why. Did he have his own brand coming in? It’s a new era called the Ball era.”

Meanwhile, back in the land of reality, sales of that laughable shoe have proven to be exaggerated, with less than 300 pairs sold on the first day.

[Jeffx]

You think Lavar Ball is crazy but this is exactly how Donald Trump acts and he won the presidency. Both are good con men is what I'm saying.

You nailed it - they're both con men.

LaVar is writing some pretty big checks that his son won't be able to cash.

[Andrew]

And that's the $1 billion question: is Lonzo adequately prepared for the challenge, and the fact he may not live up to those expectations at first (if ever)?

[Sauru]

its fucked up. lonzo seems like a nice guy. everything i have seen from him says he is a good dude however i dont think i have ever wanted to see someone fail so fucking hard as i want him to fail. bonus points if the lakers draft him and he sucks ass

[Andrew]

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't find a bit schadenfreude in that. Though, he did compare himself to Magic Johnson, so maybe his old man is rubbing off on him a bit.

[[Q]]

its fucked up. lonzo seems like a nice guy. everything i have seen from him says he is a good dude however i dont think i have ever wanted to see someone fail so fucking hard as i want him to fail. bonus points if the lakers draft him and he sucks ass

would be hilarious if boston took him

[Sauru]

its fucked up. lonzo seems like a nice guy. everything i have seen from him says he is a good dude however i dont think i have ever wanted to see someone fail so fucking hard as i want him to fail. bonus points if the lakers draft him and he sucks ass

would be hilarious if boston took him

dear god in heaven no. please no. dont do it to me

[NovU]

I am thinking Lonzo could be the real deal. Not only Lonzo's college stats are amazing, but he's got great size and defensive tools for a pure PG. I wouldn't want to see him being stuck behind Isaiah or D'Angelo Russell and not playing much, but it seems like he's going to be either the Lakers or Celtics.

In the meantime, I am waiting for Zion Williamson to come to NBA. Will he be eligible for the draft in 2019?

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[Sauru]

if the lakers keep their pick i expect russell will be on his way out of town

[Andrew]

If he's available at the Lakers pick, it seems that's where he'll go.

[Andrew]

Fox Sports host Kristine Leahy calls LaVar Ball comments ‘disrespectful to women’

Today’s trip to the weird LaVar Ball media circus takes us to Fox Sports, where Ball took to The Herd with Colin Cowherd and proceeded to say a lot of stuff per usual and get into an argument with co-host Kristine Leahy.

Ball was in the middle of discussing how many $495 Big Baller Brand sneakers he’s sold so far (“I’ve sold a good amount, to me”) when Leahy interjected to ask how many.

“Stay in your lane,” Ball responded, which ignited a bizarre, argumentative back and forth during which he drove home the point that Leahy “scares [him] to death.”

“My problem is you are a hater,” Ball said, continuing to talk over her.

“I have a right to say what shirt I want to wear,” Leahy contended, adding that she felt Ball was being disrespectful to her and to women.

The exchange lasted a couple of minutes, and Leahy argued that she felt Big Baller Brand should consider catering to women. Ball was dismissive and said his brand was not a “women’s company.”

Later on, Ball took a shot at Jason Whitlock: “I don’t think he can comment on anything but snacks.”

Leahy then interjected again: “So you disrespect women and people for their weight?”

In other words, he continues to out himself as a terrible human being. But I guess we're all "haters" who don't get it. Pathetic.

[air gordon]

I am curious to see how many pages/posts this thread can generate for this bum. So far 2 pages

[Andrew]

Less than the Bulls thread, more than the Knicks thread.

[Jackal]

Seriously. Stop paying attention to the guy. Why is he being interviewed on podcasts and shows? They don't do that with other prospect family members. Just stop giving the guy attention, you're playing right in to it.

It's like that cash me ousside girl. Be stupid = get famous.

[Andrew]

That's the frustrating thing. It's obviously giving him exactly what he wants, but it's difficult not to turn to someone and say "Can you believe this guy?"

[Sauru]

i know its wrong but i would love to see his kid blow out his knee in his only practice for the lakers just so we can see lavar say "yeah that 3 billion number was a joke, how about 50k?"

[[Q]]

Seriously. Stop paying attention to the guy. Why is he being interviewed on podcasts and shows? They don't do that with other prospect family members. Just stop giving the guy attention, you're playing right in to it.

It's like that cash me ousside girl. Be stupid = get famous.

honestly that's what happened with trump lol
CNN and other stations kept playing his sound bites because he was the most interesting or only thing going on in the news and they built him up unintentionally. I see the same thing happening with Lavar and him becoming a mini celebrity because of his outlandish actions and comments

[NovU]

Not necessarily I like his demeanor which obviously negatively affects my views on his kids but I do like what he's doing, denying to deal with Nike or so big corporations. One can say he's greedy but looking at those big ass corporations, he's definitely lesser of the evil.

[zzcoolj21]

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Pretty accurate depiction

[Andrew]

Which scene was the one-on-one game between Westbrook and Harden parodying? I couldn't place it.

[Sauru]

Which scene was the one-on-one game between Westbrook and Harden parodying? I couldn't place it.

i was going with jaime's training after losing his hand though i could be wrong

[Andrew]

Ah, you're probably right. That's going back a couple of seasons now, probably why it didn't seem familiar.