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It’s not breaking news that former UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball has gotten negative headlines in the media during the pre-draft process. It happens sometimes to NBA prospects as people begin to truly pick their game apart for the first time.
What’s different about Ball is that most of the negativity that’s surrounded him hasn’t been generated by his own comments, but rather his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, continually running his mouth.
LaVar Ball has been a source of controversy since entering the national spotlight alongside his son, but he has especially ended up in hot water over the last month for commenting on Kyrie Irving’s relationship with his mother (who is deceased). There was also his back-and-forth with Kristin Leahy of Fox Sports in which he said his family’s Big Baller Brand clothing wasn’t for women.
UCLA guard Bryce Alford worked out for the Lakers Monday, and he doesn’t like that his former teammate is getting negative attention for things that are outside of his control:
Former UCLA guard Bryce Alford shares his perspective on LaVar Ball's outspoken nature during Lonzo Ball's time with Bruins. pic.twitter.com/HQPSnyGDQ7
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 29, 2017
Bryce Alford on Lonzo Ball: "If there is one thing that cat does, he wins. That dude wins."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) May 29, 2017
Alford isn’t wrong. It’s not totally fair to Lonzo Ball that his father has gone out and given some people a negative perception of their family with his brash proclamations and at-times insensitive comments.
That being said, it’s also not likely to hurt Lonzo Ball much. He is still widely-considered the second-best player in the draft behind Markelle Fultz, and will still likely be taken by the Lakers with the second overall pick.
After the draft, Lonzo and LaVar Ball may have to deal with fallout from the latter’s comments if the former doesn’t live up to the hype or has a target on his back from veteran’s who took exception to his father’s comments over the summer.
For now though, with the Lakers set to take him as his father so often tried to “speak into existence,” it seems like everything is going pretty well for Lonzo Ball.
Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.