Lonzo Ball ramping up efforts for Father’s Day, NBA draft

In the last three days, Lonzo Ball has been part of two public Father’s Day tributes to LaVar Ball. ( Mark J. Terrill/ AP)

In the last couple of weeks, before he loses the tag of UCLA point guard and his name is prefaced by an NBA team, Lonzo Ball appears to be doing some targeted damage control.

The reputation his father, LaVar Ball, began to develop during Lonzo’s lone season at UCLA only continued to permeate the national media after the Bruins exited the NCAA tournament. The narrative eventually shifted to LaVar’s potential to hamper Lonzo’s draft stock.

With the NBA draft less than two weeks away – and Father’s Day around the corner – the family began to do something about it. Continue reading “Lonzo Ball ramping up efforts for Father’s Day, NBA draft” »

Can Lonzo Ball be a transcendent player in the NBA?

Our Southern California News Group Lakers beat writer Mark Medina had me on his podcast, where I rambled about Lonzo Ball after his workout for the Lakers on Wednesday.

Among the subjects we tackled were Lonzo’s evolution from soft-spoken freshman to legitimate leader at UCLA, his potential to change the culture of a franchise, whether he can be a transcendent player in the NBA, the obvious holes in his game and, of course, LaVar Ball and Big Baller Brand.

Lonzo Ball works out for Lakers, sits down with team brass

Lonzo Ball at the LA Lakers training facility in El Segundo where he went through a workout and spoke to reporters afterward. (Photo by Brad Graverson/SCNG)

Lonzo Ball’s long-awaited workout for the Lakers wasn’t limited to the basketball court on Wednesday. Tuesday night, the former UCLA point guard had dinner with Lakers coach Luke Walton, GM Rob Pelinka and President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson.

After his 75-minute workout at the Lakers practice facility – followed by an interesting session with the media – Ball was whisked off to a lunch date with Lakers owners Jeanie, Joey and Jesse Buss.

Ball’s private workout included “typical stuff” on the court, but he had a few eyebrow-raising things to say afterward. As for his infamous father, LaVar, Lonzo said he was ensured at dinner that Lakers brass is far from worried.

“They said they love him,” Lonzo said. “That’s about it.”

LaVar Ball wasn’t present at the workout or at dinner Tuesday night in Venice. Neither were any of the current Lakers players.

READ: Lonzo Ball downplays criticism of LaVar, highlights leadership qualities 

Perhaps the most interesting thing Ball had to say indirectly referenced D’Angelo Russell, the team’s current point guard. Continue reading “Lonzo Ball works out for Lakers, sits down with team brass” »

Lonzo Ball confirms his mother suffered a stroke


Lonzo Ball said his mother Tina Ball suffered a stroke in late February, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

Ball learned of the stroke during a UCLA practice when he received a text message from a relative. His father, LaVar Ball, was upset with the relative because he was waiting to tell Lonzo about his mother’s condition in person that evening at his brothers’ basketball game.

Lonzo said he sees his mother four or five times a week and her condition is improving.

“She can’t really talk right now, but I mean, she definitely, she knows what we’re saying,” Lonzo said. “She smiles all the time, so that’s a good thing.”

LaVar Ball, 49, was attending to his wife at home and didn’t make the trip to Memphis, Tenn., for UCLA’s loss to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinal, Lonzo’s last collegiate game before declaring for the NBA draft.

LaVar wanted to keep news of the stroke from the public so things could stay quiet for his three sons as they finished basketball season. Continue reading “Lonzo Ball confirms his mother suffered a stroke” »

LaVar Ball: MJ couldn’t sell $495 shoes because ‘he ain’t Lonzo’

LaVar Ball is yet to offer details about why Lonzo Ball’s signature shoe carries an unprecedented $495 price tag, but he fielded questions about it on Tuesday. The father of the former UCLA star said on Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed that Michael Jordan couldn’t price his shoes that high “because he ain’t Lonzo Ball, that’s why.”

Lonzo Ball’s signature shoe, produced by his family company Big Baller Brand, was revealed on Thursday. The price of the ZO2 Prime has dominated the discussion since. LaVar Ball said he and Lonzo independently decided on the $495 price, but was tight-lipped about the discussion that led to a significantly higher number than the most expensive Jordan Brand shoes.

“I don’t have to go to a board room and say ‘You know what? What do you think the price should be?” LaVar Ball said. “My board room consists of me and my son.” Continue reading “LaVar Ball: MJ couldn’t sell $495 shoes because ‘he ain’t Lonzo’” »