From the moment LaMelo Ball became a Charlotte Hornet in the 2020 NBA Draft, fans immediately harkened back to his father’s infamous comments about Hornets owner Michael Jordan. When LaVar first burst onto the scene, he made plenty of headlines by proclaiming that he could be Jordan in a game of one-on-one.
Fast forward to Wednesday and suddenly the possibility of that match-up, which will almost certainly never happen, was more real than it has been. LaVar had long maintained that he would still beat Jordan, but a diplomatic LaMelo was not ready to go that far when asked about the 1-on-1 duel during his introductory press conference on Friday.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Ball said with a grin. “And we know how it’d turn out to be honest. But I mean that is my pops and my boss so I’m on both sides now.”
In a piece for ESPN on draft night with the Ball family, Tim Keown did ask LaVar about the topic of the Jordan showdown and, not surprisingly, the Big Baller did back off his claim a bit.
LaVar tells me the world might finally get to see that one-on-one, but first he has to discuss the business side with Jordan: pay-per-view, guaranteed money, that kind of thing. He laughs and says, “Hey, if people are willing to pay to see 50-year-old Mike Tyson fight, why not?” He likes the idea of Jordan guiding his son. “Greatness recognizes greatness,” he says. “I always told my boys, ‘Someone has to be better than the best — why not you?'”
Obviously, the reality is that this match-up will never happen. It is a playful storyline that has led to some funny moments both prior to and after LaMelo landing in Charlotte. And, as LaMelo said, we all know how it’d end.
