LaVar Ball: 3 NBA Legends that the 'Big Baller Brand' founder claims he could beat 1-on-1

Since bursting onto the scene in the lead up to the 2017 NBA draft, LaVar Ball has established himself as a household name. The 51-year-old made regular appearances on ESPN's First Take, and Skip and Shannon: UNDISPUTED, and his controversial appearance on WWE RAW also yielded much media coverage.

With his eldest son playing for the New Orleans Pelicans and his youngest tipped to enter the NBA next summer, LaVar is here to stay, and the outspoken father continues to generate plenty of headlines.

While LaVar is known for making bold claims about his sons, the 'Big Baller Brand' founder also has plenty to say about his own basketball skills. Ball never played basketball at a professional level and averaged just 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist during his lone season in college.

However, LaVar's age and lack of credentials have not stopped him challenging some of the biggest names in NBA history to a one-on-one game. So, here we will take a look at three NBA Legends that LaVar Ball claims he could beat 1-on-1.

#3 LeBron James

LeBron James moved to the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer

Shortly after the Los Angeles Lakers completed the signing of LeBron James last summer, LaVar Ball claimed that the 15-time All-Star was 'weak'. LaVar also went on to claim that he would have beaten James 1-on-1 back in his heyday:

(LeBron) James is too weak. Back in my heyday, can't nobody hold me. 270 (pounds), benching 500? All I gotta do is back you in, I'll lift all of them up off their feet.

You want to see me back in my heyday? My will to win was too hard. One-on-one, I bet on myself all day."

Ball has never played a game of professional basketball, while James is still arguably the best player on the planet despite turning 35 later this year. Regardless, few would argue that Ball would score a single point on the Los Angeles superstar, and LeBron didn't waste his time by replying to Ball's ridiculous claim.

#2 Charles Barkley

Barkley played for the Phoenix Suns between 1992 and 1996

Charles Barkley is widely regarded as one of the most dominant players of his generation and during a memorable 16-year career, Barkley became just the fourth player in NBA history to record 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists.

However, as he continued to burst onto the scene in early 2017, LaVar claimed that he could beat Barkley 1-on-1 as the Hall of Famer was 'too big':

He wants to play one-on-one and all this, and he says I averaged two points, who cares? I know he don't want to play one-on-one because he's too big. He better stay behind that TNT thing ... and eat them doughnuts.

The two have sent insults back and forth since LaVar's initial comments, and Barkley eventually challenged LaVar to prove his claim. However, Ball refused the offer, and a potential 1-on-1 battle looks unlikely to happen.

#1 Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all-time

Just days after feuding with Charles Barkley, LaVar Ball decided to take aim at the greatest athlete of all-time. During 15 seasons in the NBA, Michael Jordan won six championships, six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards, ten scoring titles, five MVP Awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

However, this didn't stop Ball declaring that Jordan couldn't stop him in a 1-on-1 game:

I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one. I would just back in and lift him off the ground and call a foul every time he fouls me when I do a jump hook to the right or the left. He cannot stop me one-on-one. He better make every shot ’cause he can’t go around me. He’s not fast enough.

Jordan eventually responded to the outlandish claim - highlighting LaVar's awful college record:

He averaged 2.2 points a game. Really? It doesn't deserve a response, but I'm giving it to you because you asked the question. I don't think he could beat me if I was one-legged.

Jordan's crushing response seemed to be the end of the debate, although LaVar has since stated his desire to face the NBA legend in a 1-on-1 game.