Lonzo Ball says one of his biggest regrets is allowing his father, LaVar Ball, to have too much control over the early stages of his NBA career.
Ball, currently an unsigned free agent, discussed his father’s influence during an appearance on Michael Porter Jr.’s “Curious Mike” podcast.
He believes LaVar’s public campaign before the 2017 NBA Draft may have helped push the Lakers toward selecting him second overall.
“I think he had a huge influence on it, bro,” Ball said. “To be honest … I think he damn near made it to where they had to pick me. Really, to a point, I really do feel like that.”
LaVar remained heavily involved during Ball’s two seasons in Los Angeles, publicly criticizing then-Lakers coach Luke Walton and promoting the family’s Big Baller Brand.
Ball also recalled having to play in Big Baller Brand shoes that he believed were not suitable for NBA competition.
“It wasn’t a basketball shoe, bro. It wasn’t ready to be used. So I tried to play in it, but they would rip and pop out like every quarter,” Ball said.
He said his manager regularly carried replacement shoes because of the problems.
“DMo [Darren Moore, Ball’s manager] had backup shoes in his backpack that he would give me right over the bench if they would blow out. I’m like, ‘I can’t play like this, bro.’ And right when I changed my shoes, I started playing great again.”
Ball said he expressed his concerns but felt pressure to continue wearing the shoes because of the family business.
“I didn’t like the shoes. I addressed it. I didn’t like the shoes. But then we would get into an argument and it would be like, damn, if you don’t wear the shoes, then you going against the family type s–t.”
Looking back, Ball wishes he had taken greater control of his professional career earlier.
“I literally was just hooping and following my pops, listening to my pops … I was just doing what I was told really,” Ball said. “I guess that would be my one regret, like taking control of my career earlier.
“The way I was raised was like a blessing and a curse.”
