If you’re a basketball fan, there is a good chance that you have heard of the Ball family. Lonzo Ball is a 6’6″ point guard who played just one season for the UCLA Bruins, where he averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.0 rebounds. As a result of his fine play in the NCAA, Lonzo is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
For obvious reasons, Lonzo is not the most prominent name in the Ball family. That distinguished honor goes to his outspoken father, LaVar Ball. By now, you may have heard of the Big Baller Brand — a sports apparel company that was founded by LaVar in 2016. Despite being rejected by Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour in April of 2017, Big Baller Brand elected to release Lonzo’s first signature shoe on their own for an outrageous price of $495 a pair ($695 if your shoe size is 14 or bigger).
The shoe and the cost of it has drawn criticism from many on social media and the NBA world. On their latest release of the Road Trippin’ podcast with Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson, Lonzo’s name entered the conversation. Due to all of the hype that LaVar has created around his son’s name, Frye explained that Lonzo could have a target on his back.
“No matter what (Lonzo) does, it is going to be so easy to hate on him now,” Frye said. “It’s going to be disgustingly easy to hate on him.”
In that same podcast, their Cavs teammate Kyrie Irving had a lot to say about the elder Ball, including that he should let his son live.
“I’m sorry, LaVar, you’re not going to be in every hotel room that Lonzo is going to be in,” Irving said. “You’re not going to be everywhere and part of his life as he continues to grow up. You got to let go. He’s 19-years old. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want it to bypass him being a father, but he’s got to let Lonzo be Lonzo for the long haul.”