3. His dad
Lonzo Ball has been one of the most heavily hyped players in the game of basketball over the last couple years.
It’s only been because of his dad, the shameless promoter of shameless promoters, LaVar Ball.
At least he could’ve been dismissed as a court jester who was perhaps a devoted dad and a budding entrepreneur who founded Big Baller Brand.
Then he started overhyping his son, saying that he was already better than All-Star point guards like Steph Curry, a two-time NBA regular season MVP and three-time world champion.
But over time he seemed to sound crazier and crazier. He may have jumped the shark once and for all during an appearance on Undisputed when, among other delusional basketball views, he said that Ball is a better player than LeBron James.
There was some hate directed towards Lonzo Ball even before he started his rookie season, and you have to trace it to LaVar.
Recently, it appeared that Lonzo was trying to put some space between himself and LaVar, partly by leaving Big Baller Brand. This can only be a good sign, as it could mean that Lonzo has finally realized that he needs to assert himself and become his own man to have any shot of becoming as good an NBA player as he can become.