LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets is one of the best young players in the NBA today. However, his father LaVar Ball gave him a grade of C because he's not playing with his two brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo.
In an interview with Pierce Simpson of Complex Magazine, LaVar was asked to give a letter grade to LaMelo's NBA career. The boastful father was harsh on his son, giving him a C. He explained that the only way for LaMelo to get an A is to become teammates with his two older brothers.
"Letter grade for Melo’s career? A 'C,'" LaVar said. "Because the only way to get an 'A' would be to be with all his brothers. I've seen the best from him. This is nothing. I had the JBA, this boy averaged a triple-double, 34 points, running loose."
He continued:
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"I've seen this show. (Charlotte) ain't let him loose yet. How you going to let him loose if you believed there are some other guys in front of him first, and they gotta get hurt before Melo play?"
LaVar Ball is adamant that all his sons would eventually play together in the NBA. Lonzo is currently with the Chicago Bulls, LaMelo is with the Charlotte Hornets, while LiAngelo Ball is in the G League.
"Why couldn’t it still happen?" LaVar said. "At some point, all of their contracts are over, and they come up at the same time. You don't think they're going to make the decision to be together?"
Lonzo has a contract with the Bulls till next season but has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season. LaMelo, meanwhile, is eligible to sign a rookie max extension next summer. The Hornets are likely giving him the contract, as he's a franchise cornerstone.
LaVar Ball does not want LaMelo Ball to join LA Lakers
Being a native of Southern California, LaMelo Ball has been linked to the LA Lakers early in his career. However, LaVar Ball does not want his youngest son to join the Lakers because of what they did to Lonzo.
"Common sense would tell you, hell no," LaVar told Complex Magazine. "You did something to my boy Lonzo, and you think I'm going to come back with the others? I gotta be stone-cold crazy."
LaVar added that he wanted LaMelo Ball to play for the Lakers till they traded Lonzo to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019, saying:
"I wanted Melo to be a Laker before that ship done sailed. You get rid of 'Zo and you think I'm going to come back? I'm not that type of foolish guy."
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