Los Angeles Lakers: Time to admit LaVar Ball was right about the Lakers
By Ronald Agers
Okay, we have to get past the Lonzo is better than LeBron narrative
Now before we get into LaVar Ball and his take on LeBron James and Luke Walton, I have one thing to warn everyone about. Either you are going to fall out of your seat laughing or roll your eyes saying that LaVar Ball is a nut that has no clue about basketball.
I will admit that. But the exercise is to read between the lines.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton have mutually agreed to part ways.
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) April 12, 2019
"Luke is going to get fired soon. Anytime some players want to whoop your a**, you have to get up out of there." — @Lavarbigballer pic.twitter.com/VhfARM3RgK
For the record, I laughed, hard, REAL HARD! But after five minutes, I looked into what he was saying.
With the exception of Brandon Ingram, who was wearing out the NBA before his blood clots, basically what LaVar Ball said came to pass. Kyle Kuzma digressed to finish out the season. Before Josh Hart shut it down for the season with knee problems, he was struggling.
In context, what LaVar Ball is trying to get across is that these players work very well filling lanes on the fast break where Lonzo is a willing passer. There were situations evident throughout the season before Lonzo got hurt that illustrated his point.
The game in Houston when Lonzo got hurt, the Lakers were laying waste to the Rockets. They were up 20, James Harden was frustrated and Houston had no answer for the Lakers. It was going to be a blowout.
As soon as Lonzo Ball turned his ankle, that was when the game and the season turned sour for the Lakers. Now Shannon Sharpe brought up percentages for Lonzo’s shooting. Rightfully so. But Lonzo was gaining confidence. His 3 point shooting actually beat the Chicago Bulls. Then the Lakers upset the Thunder on the road.
Let’s talk LeBron James (We’ll give the people on the floor laughing time to get back in their seats).
He is getting old. This is a guy that is going into his 17th year in the NBA. Please stop with the rest narrative and “LeBron James will be back better than ever.”
Outside of maybe Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, what 17-year player has been dominant in NBA history? As LaVar Ball said, he has been in the league a long time! Plus, it is true. LeBron James can build another house with those bricks he throws up from the free throw line.
As for Luke Walton, look, folks, you have to know that LaVar Ball has the inside track to that story. Plus, you really don’t need him to figure it out. First LeBron James backs out of a game against the champs.
Luke Walton calls out players for being selfish, their frustration got the best of them.
As uncertainty surrounds Lakers into deadline week, several veterans -- including Michael Beasley -- had an emotionally-charged verbal exchange with head coach Luke Walton postgame tonight, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium. It stopped short of turning physical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2019
Pick whomever you want to believe. Here’s Ramona Shelburne.
Texted a few folks about whatever it was that happened in Lakers lockeroom tonight. One described it as typical lockeroom stuff & said, “It never got close to getting out of control, people are always emotional after a loss.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 3, 2019
But, what we can believe is that Michael Beasley was soon traded in the Ivica Zubac deal for Mike Muscala. Guess Beasley is one of those dudes you can’t talk it out with.