LaVar Ball, sport's current candidate for Outspoken Father of the Year, might not be as big a "bad guy" as some people think.
According to ESPN, when asked by the Los Angeles Times about LaVar's supposed influence on the UCLA Bruins, the Division I school that his son Lonzo starred at this past season, head coach Steve Alford paints a much more restrained picture of the over-the-top dad.
Alford told the newspaper that the senior Ball spent "zero" time around the team and was "never at practice [and] never called me." When asked if his coaching was ever meddled with by LaVar, Alford also responded with: "Never."
Members of the Los Angeles Lakers' front office, including new head honcho Magic Johnson, said they don't believe LaVar will have any influence whether they Lonzo next month with the No. 2 overall pick the NBA Entry Draft. Ball, currently rated as the No. 2 prospect, helped lead UCLA to a 31-5 record and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.