When they initially burst onto the scene, the allure of the Ball family was a loud, possibly-crazed father of three talented sons with sights set on not just success at the NCAA level but the NBA level as well. It was also quick to see that LaVar was a commanding figure in the family.
As time has passed and the family has stayed in the limelight, the fact a LaVar being a towering figure persisted. As the Big Baller himself, LaVar is the family’s leader and the driving force for his boys. But in a LaMelo Ball’s recent SLAM feature, LaVar had a unique quote in which he says he doesn’t push his sons.
They say ‘LaVar you push the hell out of your boys. That’s why they so good cause you push them.’ I say ‘I don’t push them because that means resistance.’ That means you don’t feel like working out one day and I’m like ‘Come on, dog. We gonna do it. Come on.’ I don’t push, I lead. If I lead you somewhere, when you don’t feel like following, turn your [expletive] around and go back the other way or just turn off sit down. If you don’t feel what I’m doing is right or understand I’m leading you the right way, don’t follow. Don’t follow. If I have to motivate Melo or I have to motivate any of my boys, this ain’t for you.
Cynics might look at this quote with Lonzo Ball’s recent moves in mind and think the two might be related. In the wake of the Alan Foster situation with Big Baller Brand, Lonzo has separated himself from his father and the brand, signing with CAA and agent Leon Rose. Those comments about turning around and going the other way could be directed at Lonzo.
However, that appears unlikely even for the cynics. LaVar has given interviews with a similar message in the past, pre-dating the recent moves from Lonzo. Likewise, Lonzo has spoken since the incident about always being close to his family.
Instead of focusing on that narrative, it’d be wise to examine whether LaVar’s actions meet his words. After pulling LaMelo out of high school, LaVar made him the face of his own league while trotting him around the world for profit, without LaMelo having much of a chance to argue otherwise.
