Lonzo Ball made his first public appearance on Monday following UCLA's elimination in the NCAA Tournament. He appeared on ESPN's First Take with his father LaVar, and was interviewed by the show's hosts, Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, and Molly Qerim.
This year's draft prospect answered questions thrown at him about his father's recent string of controversial statements and also on how he thinks he'll fare in the NBA. As expected, LaVar got in the conversation and received mixed reactions on Twitter, not because of his responses, but the way he walked into the studio.
Lonzo and LaVar are live now on @espn! pic.twitter.com/f0IiqxfFSm
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 27, 2017
As always, the internet, Twitter in particular, wasn't going to let this one get away.
https://twitter.com/ByDanRoth/status/846374706857066496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fuproxx.com%2Fdimemag%2Flavar-ball-lonzo-espn-meme%2F
"Help me" – Lonzo pic.twitter.com/U00dGsFKEJ
— Cha'Mander (@JayUnFazed) March 27, 2017
Lonzo Ball on first take looking like his pops Lavar dragged him to Parent-Teacher conference pic.twitter.com/vXdX967vxs
— Original Rich Dollas (@Richie_whatever) March 27, 2017
"I know them ain't dominos y'all got setup!" https://t.co/Esv4zIgm9u
— Young Person (@EricTrillman_) March 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/KofieYeboah/status/846443074180042752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fuproxx.com%2Fdimemag%2Flavar-ball-lonzo-espn-meme%2F
Some Twitter users even compared his walk to how some WWE stars do theirs, including its owner, Vince McMahon.
— Casey (@Mr_MacDougall) March 27, 2017
WHY LEVAR BALL COME INTO FIRST TAKE LIKE HES VINCE MCMAHON COMING TO BEEF WITH MICK FOLEY ABOUT WRESTLEMANIA.. pic.twitter.com/fTxwWGB5nM
— 🌹SKRRRT COBAIN🌹 (@LAChocoThunder) March 27, 2017
Despite all the criticisms the Balls have received, there's no denying that they have taken the basketball world by storm, whether it may be positive or negative. It also appears like the discussions over them will not end anytime soon.
Lonzo is projected to be a top-three pick this June and has the potential to be franchise-changer depending on how he'll be utilized by the team that drafts him. However, he will need to live up to the hype, because if he doesn't, his family will be ridiculed even more, especially by the ones who sees his father's antics as a marketing stunt to get more attention towards them.