There's an old saying that goes, “If you can't beat them, join them.” But LaVar Ball does things his way.
After his criticisms of how the Los Angeles Lakers coached his son Lonzo Ball fell largely on deaf ears, he took his act to Lithuania, where his two younger sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, play professional basketball. It didn't take long for him to criticize how that team was coached, and it seems he will finally get his opportunity to dictate how his sons play basketball on a team that has nothing to do with him.
In today's exhibition game for BC Vytautas, Ball will serve as an assistant coach, per ESPN.
“He will be an assistant coach on game protocol but will drive the team through the game and make many of the decisions,” a team spokesman told ESPN. “The style the team is going to play is going to be LaVar's choice.”
Vytautas coach Virginijus Seskus told ESPN through a translator, “LaVar wants the team to play fast. He also has an idea for a new way for the team to play defense, so we're going to try it out tonight. Today we'll be like two equal coaches, but this will only be for the friendly match. We'll see how it goes today. Why not let him do it? It's only a friendly match. It will end, and everyone will forget about it.”
The game is a friendly and part of the Big Baller Brand Challenge in Lithuania. So the argument is there that having Ball coach the game and made many of the decisions is in the best interest of the entire event. But there has to be a line in the sand somewhere.
Ball can have his opinions. He can have his Big Baller Brand. But his meddling in the coaching styles of those more experienced than him is over the top. It's not a precedent that should be set, but Ball simply does not care.
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