While other people express disdain for LaVar Ball, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert described the father of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball as a “pretty good dad.” Gobert told Kyle Goon of the Salt Lake Tribune that LaVar “seems like a pretty good dad to me," adding that he thinks that his kids are all pretty good. Gobert was asked about LaVar before the Jazz took on Lonzo and the Lakers on Saturday. Gobert said LaVar got the world's attention by making ridiculous and sometimes outrageous comments to help market his sons and his Big Baller Brand.
“He got the world’s attention," Gobert said. "I think that’s what he wanted. Everyone fell into his trap.” At the start of the season, LaVar criticized Los Angeles Clippers veteran point guard Patrick Beverley for his physical play on Lonzo, who was limited to just three points in a 108-92 loss in their season opener.
Wizards coach also praised LaVar
Aside from Gobert, Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks also praised LaVar, saying he would love to have a father like him. Brooks shared his view on LaVar to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post, saying his father abandoned him when he was two years old. Brooks said LaVar is the type of father that pumps his sons with confidence, adding that for him “it’s every son's dream.” Brooks heaped praises on LaVar while his players John Wall and Marcin Gortat had a verbal spat with Lonzo’s father before the Wizards-Lakers game.
Wall said LaVar’s talk put his son in a situation where they will be targeted by opposing players. In five games, Lonzo is averaging 10.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.4 dimes per outing.
Lakers must tell LaVar to shut up
As of now, LaVar is not interfering with the way the Lakers have been handling Lonzo, who was benched by coach Luke Walton in their 101-92 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
A former NBA coach told Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News that the Lakers should tell LaVar to “shut up” if he lashes out at Walton. The coach said that if he was in Walton’s shoes, he would tell president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and owner Jeanie Buss to step in on his behalf and advise LaVar to keep his mouth shut.
LaVar has a history of feuding with coaches regarding how his son is being coached. Recently, he had a verbal spat with former Chino Hills High School coach Stephan Gilling, the coach of his son LaMelo. LaVar also pulled LaMelo from Chino Hills and plans to train him for the next two seasons before he suits up for UCLA.
