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When LaVar Ball, together with his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo, packed their bags to try their luck in the Lithuanian basketball league, ESPN's Jeff Goodman was among the most prominent reporters tasked to keep track of the daily happenings involving the controversial family.
However, Goodman's coverage of the Balls did not last very long. Back in late January, he was no longer granted permission to conduct interviews and cover LaVar and his sons by the Big Baller Brand founder himself.
In the latest episode of “Ball in the Family,” more light was shed on the developments that led to the severance of their relationship. As it turns out, the Ball patriarch did not take too well the way Goodman sneaked in a question that resulted in one of Lavar's more mind-boggling statements during that time — Luke Walton having lost control of the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room.
The interview was supposed to be about his two sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, but somehow, the veteran reporter that he is, Goodman was able to let out a wildcard bait that got a big one from LaVar's mouth.
The Ball brothers' agent, Harrison Gaines, specifically told Goodman not to publish the bit about Walton. However, the ESPN reporter probably felt that his presence there was meant to document whatever he saw, rather than becoming a mouthpiece or an extended spokesperson of LaVar.
LiAngelo can be seen giving his take on what has transpired, expressing dismay over Goodman's actions:
“Jeff acts like he has our family’s back when he really doesn’t, so I don’t like doing interviews with him.”
Goodman is now back to doing what he does best for ESPN — college basketball. While the Ball family will always thrive regardless of whoever covers their daily activities, as long as there is a controversy that LaVar can stir up, they'll be fine.
