UCLA Basketball: It is time UCLA distances themselves from LaVar Ball and family
After the latest antics regarding LaVar Ball, the UCLA basketball team should seriously consider distancing themselves from him and, unfortunately, his talented family, including 2019 commit, LaMelo Ball.
It was a fun ride, but its time to stop. The UCLA basketball team (and this is only my opinion) should distances themselves from the LaVar Ball Show (because really, that is what it is).
RELATED: LaVar Ball pulls LiAngelo Ball out of UCLA
For everything LaVar Ball has done, everyone took it with a grain of salt, especially UCLA. Everyone associated with the Bruins’ basketball program were nothing but gracious when speaking of Ball and his family. That generosity was not reciprocated.
Instead, the father of current Los Angeles Lakers and former UCLA guard Lonzo Ball has acted in a very ungracious way as he pulled his middle son, LiAngelo Ball, out of school. And why? Because he believes the punishment LiAngelo received for shoplifting $700 sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store in Hangzhou, China is unfair.
Last month, Ball and current Bruins Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were arrested for shoplifting ahead of the Pac-12 China Game, UCLA’s season opener.. Though the charges were dropped, all three were suspended indefinitely from all basketball activities. Apparently that does not sit well with LaVar.
His son committed a crime and instead of teaching him a life lesson and letting him serve his punishment, he took his Ball and went home (pun intended) because things did not go his way (and yet you do not see the parents of Riley and Hill pulling their kids out of the university).
But this is not the first time LaVar did something like this. Two months ago LaVar pulled his youngest son, LaMelo Ball, out of Chino Hills High School because he did not agree with head basketball coach Dennis Latimore’s decision to have LaMelo alter his role on the team. I’m telling you, this cannot be made up. This is the LaVar Ball Show in all its glory.
But there also another problem, LaMelo Ball recently released his own shoe through his father’s company, Big Baller Brand, which could render Ball ineligible with the NCAA and prevent him from enrolling at UCLA. LaVar does not care. He told ESPN, “If he can’t play, he can’t play. It doesn’t mean he’ll stop working out and getting better. Maybe in two years, they’ll change the rule and he’ll be able to go to the NBA straight out of high school.”
If that is the case, it is time to cut ties. LaVar is clearly not happy with UCLA and UCLA has no time for this.
The most storied college basketball program does not need LaVar. LaVar needs UCLA. At least he did before he moved on to make a scene at Lakers games. But it seems that he can no longer do that either. It has been reported that the Lakers are restricting the media from going into the designated area of the Staples Center that is for team family members. It is called the “LaVar Ball Rule” and will prevent the eccentric father from opening his mouth… during Lakers games at least. But as he does, he will find a way to get on TV and voice is opinion.
The only thing LaVar is teaching his sons right now, is that if they do not get their way, they do not have to play with a team.
But it is all wearing thin. If the Lakers are trying to silence LaVar, so should UCLA. With LiAngelo out and no guarantee that LaMelo will enroll, the Bruins should cut their losses and move on. There is still plenty of time to recruit a point guard for the 2019 class (though it is quickly thinning out).
The unfortunate part in all of this is the fact that LaVar Ball is hurting the careers and reputations of his sons. To an extent, he is also hurting their game by taking them out of school. Not only do they miss out on top tier competition (you don’t get that from pick up games, except at UCLA, how coincidental) but they are also missing out on elite coaching (Alford haters, hold your laughs, you know what I am saying).
Additionally, he is preventing them from learning to play with others. The only thing LaVar is teaching his sons right now, is that if they do not get their way, they do not have to play with a team. But if LaVar is going to continue with that mentality, he will quickly learn that there will be no one left to play with and thusly, no one to care.
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Still, it was fun while it lasted, especially with Lonzo’s amazing year in blue and gold, but there is nothing left for UCLA to gain. Once agin, this is only my opinion, but its time UCLA moved on from LaVar Ball and his family. I wish the best of luck to his sons in all of their future endeavors.