During the lead-up to the 2017 NBA draft, LaVar Ball was adamant that his oldest son Lonzo Ball should (and would) land with the Los Angeles Lakers No. 2 overall. Three years later, the father of three is still talking up his sons as another Ball is set to hit the NBA: LaMelo, projected to be a top-three pick in Wednesday’s draft.
“It’s all the same. My boys are on the same journey. Me and my wife, from Day One, we had a goal to get them all to the NBA and that’s all we’re doing,” said LaVar during an interview on Good Show on Wednesday. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, man, I’m so excited my son is getting drafted’ — I already knew he was gonna get drafted.”
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Though, some things have changed about his mindset. Whereas LaVar was vocal about Lonzo’s destination being L.A., his concern this time around isn’t where LaMelo ends up but rather with whom.
“I learned that it doesn’t matter where you’re at, you’ve just got to have a coach believe in you,” he said.
Lonzo is now with the New Orleans Pelicans after being part of the blockbuster July 2019 trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Middle son LiAngelo is currently with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Blue. According to projections, LaMelo — the youngest of the three Ball boys — will most likely land in Minnesota, Golden State, or Charlotte.
“I ain’t hopeful for No. 1 — he’s going No. 1. You’ve got to be crazy not to take him No. 1,” LaVar said. “Even if you don’t want him, you can trade him and get a bunch of stuff for him. But you’ve got to take him No. 1.”
For LaVar, the dream is still alive that all three sons wind up with the same NBA club.
“I was talking about New York and Detroit in the beginning, because they wanted all three of my sons. They were going to try to find a way. But they got so far in the draft, they can’t offer enough to get all three of them,” he said. “Whoever wants all three of my boys, that’s the team I want. But for now, I want LaMelo to have the best coach believes in him.”
Asked if his sons also dream of playing together, Ball said “of course.”
“They’re unbeatable like that,” he said. “Their playing speed is so fast, you can’t catch them. Everybody’s looking for the Big Three, these boys are the big three organically, all their life.”
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