There are few things LaVar Ball loves more than making predictions — especially when they involve one of his three sons — and in a recent interview with TMZ, Ball predicted that Lonzo and the New Orleans Pelicans will lift the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the 2019-20 NBA season.
“How far in the playoffs? The championship. Aha!” LaVar said. “You don’t go to the championship just to go, you go to win. They’re going to take it all this year, for sure.”
In order to do that, the Pelicans will have to get past Lonzo’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, who are among the favorites to win the title next season. That’s not a concern of LaVar’s, though, as he believes New Orleans is more than capable of beating LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“Oh yeah, for sure — especially for Lonzo. On the fact that, what did [Alvin] Gentry say? He wants them to play the fastest pace and that’s Lonzo’s best game. And you got a bunch of youngsters, so you don’t have 20 different people asking for the ball. You give it to Lonzo and you just run,” LaVar said.
While it may be true that Lonzo is in a better position to succeed under Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, it’s hard to imagine that being the thing that sets New Orleans apart from Los Angeles.
The Pelicans have an exciting young core, highlighted by Ball, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, but they’re still getting used to each and are more limited offensively than James and Davis are. Perhaps this will be a conversation re-visiting in a few year’s time, but for now, the safe bet in the postseason is the Lakers.
Then again, a $100 bet on the Pelicans to win the 2019-20 NBA title could win you a $10,100.
