UCLA Basketball: Is LaVar Ball Good For the Bruins?

The UCLA Basketball team has had a big distraction all season long in the form of Bruin dad LaVar Ball, who recently made a worrisome statement about his “brand”. Is this good for the program?

LaVar Ball is the very outspoken father of UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball, this we know. This was something that was apparent even before his son ever played a minute for you the UCLA Basketball team.

The thing is, his style of promoting his sons has gone from cute to annoying to worrisome. And remember, these are all opinions, but opinions that are shared by many, even myself.

What parent doesn’t want their child to succeed? Ball definitely wants his sons to play at the highest level, but unfortunately it seems that there might be something else to LaVar’s statements.

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It is not about his claim that UCLA is going to win the National Championship, it is not his claim that Lonzo is better than Steph Curry, it is not about him being misquoted as saying his son will only play for the Lakers… it was about his “brand”.

The idea first hit me when I recorded a recent episode for ‘What’s Bruin Show’. The podcast hosts had received a letter from a listener who was worried about LaVar’s comments. To summarize, they stated that they were concerned with Ball being “desperate for his sons to succeed”.  They went on to write that they hope there aren’t any violations occurring, as in ties with agents. You can listen to the conversation HERE, which  begins at the 37:40 mark.

This is a valid point and a definite concern, but it seems a little more about self-promotion, especially with Lavar’s latest statement in which he talks about his brand.

“I’m not looking for an endorsment deal. I’m looking for a marketing and distribution deal.”

LaVar has every right to pursue his dream and to grow his brand, but his statements seem like he wants to promote his company rather than his kids.

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Every time a camera is put in his face, he is wearing apparel from his company Big Baller Brand.  It is actually a very good sales strategy: free advertising. But when is he going to wear UCLA gear and support his son and his team rather than push BBB?

What also worries me is that LaVar wants Lonzo to be the first player in the NBA with his own brand. He wants to go up against Nike, Adidas and Under Armour, which are billion dollar companies. As an entrepreneur, this is good for Ball to pursue, I just hope he is doing it, as the letter indicated, by not committing any violations.

If Ball is getting funding to help his brand, my hope is that it does not come with the stipulation that Lonzo Ball signs with a certain agent when he gets to the NBA.

Remember how that whole Reggie Bush fiasco occurred at USC? My hope is that Ball and UCLA can avoid all of that.

If LaVar Ball is going to boast about his sons for the next several years, he has every right, but if the integrity of UCLA Basketball is compromised, that will not look good for all parties involved.