LaMelo Ball’s path as an amateur has been as unique and extraordinary as any prospect before him. Multiple overseas stops, stints with three different professional leagues and a spell with a high school team mixed in has had Ball constantly on the move since withdrawing from Chino Hills.
Many have criticized LaVar for his handling of LaMelo’s career path. LaVar was recently confronted about his decisions for LaMelo and whether he had any regrets. In typical LaVar fashion, a spirited denial followed.
From Wide World of Sports:
“A guy asked me today, don’t you regret Melo’s childhood? How do you regret someone’s childhood, if you get to do something you have a passion for, you get paid, you get whatever you want and your family is still around you. I’m trying to figure out, where is the bad part? People also like to say, he didn’t have a great childhood because his dad is snatching him and doing this.
“So, all his friends who went to the movies and went to amusement parks and the proms, aren’t driving around in Lamborghinis or G-Wagons at the age he’s doing. Because I tell him this, ‘you’re going to work hard.’ It’s just a matter of when you do it. You’re either going to have fun at the beginning or bust your ass to make ends meet and find a job.”
It’s a remarkably, yet fittingly, obtuse comment from LaVar. It’s not the first time he’s talked about LaMelo’s upbringing in this matter. In each instance, LaVar has showcased an apparent lack of even basic understanding of why his decisions could have impacted his son.
On the court, LaMelo went from not playing in Lithuania to playing a league well below his talent level in the Junior Basketball Association. The best thing to happen to Ball was a return to the states with SPIRE Academy and connecting with Jermaine Jackson. It was Jackson, a former professional himself, that helped right Ball’s career.
Off the court, it’s not normal for a teenager to be ripped out of high school and tour the world in the nature he did.
LaMelo becoming a legitimate NBA prospect likely happened in spite of LaVar’s choices in recent years.
