LaVar Ball: 5 Things the Devoted Dad Should Get Credit For

With three basketball-playing sons and a connection to the Los Angeles Lakers (the most prestigious and popular franchise in the NBA) through his eldest son - Lonzo Ball, trust LaVar Ball to always be in the news.

Just in the 12 days of this month so far, he's had quotes regarding LeBron James joining the Lakers, how his son Lonzo would help him, why his second-eldest son LiAngelo Ball took to the JBA after not being picked in the NBA Draft and so much more. His ability to create noise more often than not was seen as a reason why LeBron might not join the Lakers and why the purple and gold franchise should not select Lonzo in the lead-up to the 2017 Draft.

But those two things happened either way. After a few weeks, maybe months in some cases, people began to roll their eyes and just overlook his remarks or not give him as much as importance. His statements began to be treated like the boy that was always crying wolf. While a majority of his statements are of the outlandish nature, we should give him credit for the ones that he has stood by.

With just a year passed since the 2017 NBA Draft, when LaVar officially got introduced to the NBA, we take a look back at 5 things he should get credit for:

#5 Visionary? Marketing Genius?

Literally, anybody could have done what LaVar Ball has attempted to do in the past year. Whether that is beginning his own sneaker brand, proclaiming his sons to be better than few current NBA superstars (which is obviously not true) and not mincing words when he says that he could beat Michael Jordan in his prime.

Even when proven wrong on any of his proclamations, LaVar is always ready with another.

A lot of his ventures (there are plenty) take courage but like many visionaries, it has been about taking advantage of a situation that nobody else had before - having your own apparel (BBB - Big Baller Brand), having your own sneaker brand and more (which will be discussed later). If you'll notice when it's absolutely necessary, he'll take hard setbacks on the chin and actually gives away smart remarks on how to bounce back and talk about the necessary attitude required during tough times unlike the rest of his outlandish opinions.

Doing what he has done is no easy task, let alone in an age and country where racial discrimination is quite rampant.

#4 Devoted Dad

Say what you may about his methods but LaVar has been quite the supportive father. He sets high standards for his sons (which father wouldn't), it just so happens to be in the public eye but what's great about his parenting is that he has stuck by his kids through thick and thin. With all the attention he gets, rarely has he been seen picking on his kids for not being perfect - like he proclaims them to be more often than not.

When LiAngelo Ball was accused of stealing in China on a college (UCLA) basketball trip, the matter wasn't conveniently overlooked in the family's reality web television show "Ball in the Family". Quite a fair bit of it was shown in the web series and not once was he seen avoiding the tough conversations.

Given everything he had predicted for Lonzo in his rookie season with the Lakers, the 19-year-old's debut turned out to be quite sub-par but once again LaVar was not one to shy away from having another proclamation ready.

In essence, from some perspectives, he could be viewed as the perfect father. With his proclamations and what not, he provides his kids with a platform to succeed but he is the first to support them if they falter.

#3 Taking his kids overseas to Lithuania

LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball Training with Vytautas Prienai

Once LiAngelo Ball and his fellow classmates were released from China, UCLA suspended them indefinitely. This was obviously hurting LaVar Ball's dream of having all his three sons play in the NBA, as lofted as that dream might be. A couple of months earlier, LaVar had already pulled off his youngest son LaMelo Ball from his high school over conflicts with the head coach regarding his playing time.

So LaVar took the bold decision, which shouldn't be a surprise, of pulling LiAngelo from UCLA and taking both of his younger sons to play pro basketball abroad. It's an extremely bold move, asking both his younger sons to play among men with LaMelo only being 15 years old. But just like his previous ventures, he made the move stick and travelled with both of them to Lithuania where LiAngelo and LaMelo would go onto represent the Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas - a pro club.

Whether the move was equivalent to the duo playing alongside boys of their age group back in California is debatable but once again, like he had proven earlier, LaVar only saw lessons that could be taken from this journey and path which was playing alongside men and doing so in an uncomfortable surrounding in an unfamiliar country.

#2 JBA - The Junior Basketball Association

Remember we discussed LaVar Ball making the most of a situation which nobody had before?

The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) League is another such example. This is arguably the first huge bold step that he has taken that benefits more than just his sons. It's a league that provides the top amateurs players in the country with an opportunity to go pro early and even earn hard money based off their brand, something that isn't allowed in college under the NCAA rules.

Right now, this league isn't been given as much attention as probably the idea deserves. Although LaVar's credibility can be questioned as to whether he did this for the overall good of the top amateur players or was this a place for his younger sons to perform, given that they had pulled out of high school (LaMelo) and college (LiAngelo).

If LaVar sticks with the idea even after his kids probably move eventually to the NBA or the G-League, then what he has done by setting up JBA is truly revolutionary.

#1 Lonzo Ball

Miami Heat v Los Angeles Lakers — Lonzo Ball

No, Lonzo Ball is not better than either Stephen Curry or LeBron James like father proclaimed when he was in college at UCLA. But the kid is special. Yes, this is coming from a Laker fan but he clearly stands out from his brothers (as of now at least LiAngelo, LaMelo is too young right now to judge).

Lonzo has a high basketball IQ, is quite long for his position (6-6). There have been questions asked about his shooting form and defense but neither was disappointing. He started on the wrong foot with his debut against the LA Clippers but he has shown improvement in every game since. His defense took steps in the right direction and deeper into the season, his shot began to fall. Maybe not at the percentage that puts him in the top tier of the league but enough to make the opposition respect it.

Time and again, he has credited his maturity and calm yet focused approach to his father. His second son, LiAngelo, hasn't quite panned out yet but let's not take anything away from him for what Lonzo Ball is right now.