Lavar Ball: Players don't want to play for Luke anymore

[afarmenian]

Let's face it, we as Lakers fans are going to criticize any coach not named Phil Jackson. We've struggled the last 5 years, having gone through 5 head coaches. it's time to look at the players, it's their job to show up and play hard at the game. All this talk about players not wanting to play for Luke, play for your self goddamn it. Show the rest of the league you're worth the contract you're going to ask for rather than giving up and pouting. They're grown ass man, not high school kids.

Great post, and while we are at it fans are going to criticize any coach today not named Kerr, Pop or Stevens

[Michael Lucky]

"As president of the Coaches Association, I view the recent ESPN article as a disgrace quite honestly. Luke Walton is a terrific young coach who is bringing along a young team and it’s a difficult task. If you don’t believe it, just ask me. We’re going through it now, we’ve been through it last year.

"ESPN is an NBA partner, and they’ve been a great one. Part of that partnership. ... the coaches do a lot of things to help them with access, interviews and all those kinds of things. In exchange for that, they should back up the coaches. Printing an article where the father of an NBA player has an opinion that is printed as anything like legitimate erodes trust. It erodes the trust we’ve built with ESPN, and our coaches are upset.

"Luke Walton does not deserve that. Two years ago, he took a veteran team and led them to 24 wins in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment. He earned the Laker job. To have to deal with these ignorant distractions is deplorable."

-- Rick Carlisle

Sad that others are forced to state the obvious. He's 100% right, it's pathetic that ESPN has given Lavar the platform to criticize a head coach and made it into a national story.

I don't blame ESPN. It's not their job to censor anyone. Rather, I appreciate Carlisle calling out LaVar for being a jackass, per usual.

By that logic they are censoring anyone else who's opinion on the matter they don't put on the front page of ESPN. The point being here is that they are giving Lavar's opinion way more weight than it has any business in having.

[Sedale Threatt]

Sad that others are forced to state the obvious. He's 100% right, it's pathetic that ESPN has given Lavar the platform to criticize a head coach and made it into a national story.

I don't blame ESPN. It's not their job to censor anyone. Rather, I appreciate Carlisle calling out LaVar for being a jackass, per usual.

By that logic they are censoring anyone else who's opinion on the matter they don't put on the front page of ESPN. The point being here is that they are giving Lavar's opinion way more weight than it has any business in having.

They're a news organization. They know a high-profile father of a high-profile rookie for a high-profile franchise criticizing the head coach is going to get attention. Just like CNN isn't going to ignore, say, Ann Coulter saying something outlandish compared to some small-market columnist that nobody's heard of. That's just how it works.

So I blame Lavar for opening his mouth in the first place. Although, this is what we signed up for as a franchise when we drafted Lonzo. So in reality, the blame is probably on us. We bought the ticket, so now we have to take the ride.

[iamworthy]

It had to come from somewhere... We're a terrible team right now and Luke's the coach.
Is the fact that it came from Lavar really that big a deal?

Probably, it came from the guy that magic told to chill. And the guy that wants all his kids on the Lakers.

[aaron_gray]

Possibly the most naked attempt to profit off your child I have ever seen

[dockingsched]

I don't blame ESPN. It's not their job to censor anyone. Rather, I appreciate Carlisle calling out LaVar for being a jackass, per usual.

By that logic they are censoring anyone else who's opinion on the matter they don't put on the front page of ESPN. The point being here is that they are giving Lavar's opinion way more weight than it has any business in having.

They're a news organization. They know a high-profile father of a high-profile rookie for a high-profile franchise criticizing the head coach is going to get attention. Just like CNN isn't going to ignore, say, Ann Coulter saying something outlandish compared to some small-market columnist that nobody's heard of. That's just how it works.

So I blame Lavar for opening his mouth in the first place. Although, this is what we signed up for as a franchise when we drafted Lonzo. So in reality, the blame is probably on us. We bought the ticket, so now we have to take the ride.

I’d go even further and say they’re not a news organization, their priority is ratings, not fair coverage or journalistic integrity. Lavar Ball gets coverage cause the audience eats it up.

[Spens1]

put a ban on him, i highly doubt Lonzo will complain all that much but just nozzle him and tell him to shut up.

Honestly just ban him from the staples arena and from lakers practice and anything involving this organisation.

[iamworthy]

Read on Twitter

[Pointgod]

Lavar needs to simply stfu. Don’t comment on the Lakers.

[Landsberger]

I’d go even further and say they’re not a news organization, their priority is ratings, not fair coverage or journalistic integrity.

ALL "news" broadcasting is about ratings first. The job of writers is to get eyes on their content regardless if it's about the Soap Box Derby or Lavar Ball. They don't get paid for being right or wrong, rather they get paid by getting readers. Many publications and broadcast outlets live off of garbage reporting and live well in most cases.

I actually have no problem with them publishing anything he says. Having the NBA (revoking press credentials) try to eliminate the ones reporting seems inappropriate on a number of levels. If ESPN or any other organization wants to publish what Lavar Ball says why should they be banned from NBA access? If it gets past their internal editorial process then they condone it. Ultimately what will happen is that more eyes will be on ESPN and on the Lakers and that's good for the NBA and their business partner ESPN.

[Michael Lucky]

Read on Twitter

This is escalating really quickly. Had no idea Luke was that popular among head coaches though.

[iamworthy]

Read on Twitter

This is escalating really quickly. Had no idea Luke was that popular among head coaches though.

It's not that he's popular so much, coaches stick together. They're like a fraternity.

[kblo247]

Read on Twitter

This is escalating really quickly. Had no idea Luke was that popular among head coaches though.

It's not that he's popular so much, coaches stick together. They're like a fraternity.

Not just that it helps Luke was a player in the league that was liked and a champion. Also helps that Luke is a second generation nba talent with a hall of fame father.

At the same time, Luke knows what Zo feels and isn't going to hold it against him. Bill Walton said some crazy **** about Kobe especially on ESPN throughout the years, it just so happened Myspace wasn't as popular as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram now are

Luke did bring it on himself though by allowing that player's meeting, letting everyone talk as if their opinions matter and they can speak on winning, and by changing his lineup so that Randle can start and Clarkson gets a tad more minutes regardless of his play. He **** up there. He should have told them stfu and play their roles or benched them, not entertained them because neither is good like that and it undermines the team and himself as these guys are losers, that's all they have been in the nba so far, they need not be looked at or respected as different

[Dloading99]

Lebron James to me has been the most polarizing figure in the NBA since Michael Jordan. he came in around the boom of Hot Take reporting. he's been the center of that the decision. things like that. he deserves the coverage and attention. He's had a crew people speak for him. he's decided what coaches he wants to coach him.


Lonzo Ball doesn't deserve or should get this kind of coverage. he's not the same type of player he's not on that level. Stephen Curry never got that. being around NBA circles teams and management Stephen Curry and his dad Dell Curry were viewed as a father who was outspoken of what he wanted for his son and what kind of team and coach he wanted his son to play for but. you never heard about it. because that's the character of Dell Curry. Dell was more like an Archie Manning.

What Lavar has done is ridiculous classless and something that already has divided the locker room. players are pissed that Lavar continues to stick his nose in the locker room and bring attention to the team that is not needed. it looks bad for Lonzo because it looks like he is running telling Dad everything to say and go back and report that to the media. it makes Lonzo look entitled. I'm really pissed and stunned about this.


This team is in a talespin and this is the tipping point. people sit in here and act like they don't know what's going on. You got Magic giving Lavar all the carblange to say what he wants. and don't talk about the little air quote media ban from Lavar at games. he can still say what he wants. Magic called Lavar coach lavar at the press conference and he ran with it. he brought him into our organization and Lavar feels like he is part of the Laker brass.



You put a team in a situation where you are basically forcing the Lakers to fire the coach and that's just dumb. Kyle Kuzma's comments and we all know Kuzma is Lonzo's boy and it looks like Kuzma and Lonzo have tuned Luke out and the other guys are against the Lavar Magic Rob players. and that's why you had a divided locker room. Bogut gets released who is luke's guy who comes out with the comments about what players are doing in the locker room. and now you have the Lavar comments.


Fox Sports one ESPN are going to continue to cover the guy cause he's ratings. personally from a production standpoint I think the topic is played out? Lagelo Sucks Lamelo looks like any other recruit who's trying to be a one and done okay so he can score but he's not spectacular he aight. he's not Trae Young or Bagley there are other players who are better and more interesting so who really cares about those guys anymore. Lonzo is a good NBA player. he's doing great things on the court. but so is Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell so the story about Big Baller and Lavar and the antics is played out. he just sounds like a disgusted fan calling out the coach. I see no story with it anymore.


The only thing I don't like is it's getting to our team and you can see it in the way the team is playing. it's not Luke it's Lavar Lonzo Magic all this crap and we aren't winning. we never had drama like this with Kobe when Shaq was here none of his posse was popping off. and the Drama with Kobe and Shaq we won three Championships. We aren't wining so they should all shut up.


Magic needs to issue a statement and I mean a Statement. We've all played Like crap we haven't performed how we all should be performing and we know we should perform. that goes for Players management coaching everybody. it starts with me. I gotta be better. we need to play for ourselves as a team. Free agency is not now. and we have no idea who is coming or who wants to come All we need to be concerned with is the guys in that locker room. every team is trying to get better in free agency and we will operate like any other team in free agency. we like our players. we like our coaches and we are committed to them and continuing to make this team a winning team. it's about winning here. any comments made by anybody out side of this organization is hearsay and nonsense and means nothing to us and should be taken as nothing but outside speculation. in regards to the comments of mr. ball those were out of bounds reckless and do not represent any of us in this organization. Luke has our support and will continue to have our support to develop these guys and get this team to winning. we support all of our players. and we hope that Lavar would use better choice of words when talking about our team. We like that he supports his son and he's done a great job with Lonzo. my concern is with the lakers and making this team better. I hope Lavar can see that supporting The Lakers and lakers coaches will be good for Lonzo. thank you and I hope this will clarify where we stand on this team going forward. thank you. "

[LordBaldric]

Maybe someone should ask Bill Walton his opinion.

[Kilroy]

Read on Twitter

Seems like a clear violation of freedom of the press, no?
And a juvenile and asinine reaction to a part of their job description... Like suing over a bad yelp review.

[Kilroy]

put a ban on him, i highly doubt Lonzo will complain all that much but just nozzle him and tell him to shut up.

Honestly just ban him from the staples arena and from lakers practice and anything involving this organisation.

Ban a paying fan from the arena because he said something negative about the organization? Half this forum would never be allowed in Staples again with that precedent...
It would be a total weak-sauce move.

I mean, Lavar's a loud mouth and a profiteer... But come on... He was a known commodity going in. The Lakers were fully aware of what they were getting...
Classy thing to do would be to acknowledge that the product on the floor isn't that great right now, say "we're all frustrated and Lavar's passionate about his son and the Lakers Nation." And move on...

Getting mad just makes us look bad IMO.

[BEazy]

Damn, this thread is crazy. All this coming from a single man. Based God Lavar...lol

[DEEP3CL]

I like the fact the Coaches Association will ask for NBA teams media relations departments to crack down on this. All the talk in this thread of "the media just doing their jobs " is a bull crap.

They're eroding trust that the coaches are giving them. These guys are around the way more than even executives of the team itself.

To have reporters pry,poke and dig just to uncover a story that gets attention for their outlet is an erosion of trust no matter how you cut it.

[Dloading99]

Deep you know being an NBA guy that these beat writers reporters are always around just prying for things.

I've seen media people calling executives asking about all players. I've been out with players hanging at restaurants seeing reporters at tables coming up saying what's up?

it's what they do. and I'm glad this stuff has been said. they twist words and they seem really friendly and cool and then your like really wow that's up? like a guy might say that coaches system is crazy but we just playing basketball. and then you'll see player doesn't like coaches system.

As for Lavar he's a great guy. and I'm a very big Lavar ball fan. I've been vey vocal about that. Big baller big baller. I drafted Lonzo third round in my fantasy league. liked the guy since he was at Chino hills. he's a loud personality that people want to be around. a guy that you want at the party.

I just don't like this cause it's a direct shot at Luke and he said guys aren't playing for Luke anymore and that's code for get rid of the coach. Lavar didn't have to go there. and he's been great on his reality show. I like all he stands for. how he is there for everybody. and he wants the best for his sons.

But he took a low blow at luke and that wasn't right. Luke has been in Zo's corner he always says great things about Zo. how he is great for the way he plays. you heard what Coach Kerr said about Lonzo and that comes from Luke all those Arizona guys talk and are boys Luke Coach Kerr Coach Q who was Kerr's boy at Arizona. so Luke wants the best for Zo.

Sometimes you gotta coach you can't coach a guy with his dad always butting in saying do it this way. and Lavar is so Crazy he really thinks that he should be the coach of the Lakers and the only guy that can coach his son. Lavar has got to chill.

Let Luke coach and Do what he does.