Prior to last night's nationally televised showdown between the Lakers and Wizards, LaVar Ball claimed that his son, Lonzo, would not lose twice in the same week.
LaVar's pre-game comments, as always, drew the attention of many in the basketball world, including Wizards center Marcin Gortat who responded to the video of LaVar by tweeting, "man..... pleaseeeeee!!! @JohnWall will torture him for 48min." Wall said he'd show "no mercy" against the 19-year old rookie point guard.
As it turns out, LaVar was right, the Lakers picked up a 102-99 victory over the previously unbeaten Wizards. Wall scored 18 points and added nine assists, but he shot just 7/22 from the field in the overtime loss.
Today, LaVar warned about the dangers of targeting his son, Lonzo.
Via Bleacher Report:
“It’s a team game. That’s how you’re going to beat someone. If you go one-on-one, you’re never going to win. If you keep taking it personal, trying to go one-on-one with my son, you’re going to lose every time.
“You’re not going to just walk in here and think you’re going to get a win. It’s all fun and games, but they ain’t Disneyland. It’s Lakerland, next to Big Baller Brand.”
In regards to Marcin Gortat's tweets, LaVar added,
“You see Gortat, he put [Wall] in trouble like that. Don’t put no pressure on your point guard like that. He’s not me. Lonzo, I’ve been telling him since he’s been a baby. It’s easy to him.”
After last night's game, John Wall praised Lonzo Ball's abilities and noted that LaVar's extreme confidence doesn't bother the rookie at all (H/T ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk).
"He's a quiet kid who doesn't say too much. He's been dealing with it [his father's outspoken comments] his whole life. It doesn't bother him. It's just new to everybody else. He's very mature for his age. He can pass, can score the ball—he just wasn't making shots tonight. We both wanted to play better."
Lonzo only scored six points on 2/11 shooting last night, but he dished out 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds. He was also the one guarding John Wall on the final play of the game.
"They needed a three to win, so I was going to ride him," Ball said. "He's right-handed, so I doubted he was going to shoot it with his left. So, I just stayed on his right hand and just [made] sure when we got to the three, don't foul him."
So far this season, Lonzo is averaging 11.5 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds in nearly 36 minutes per game.
The Lakers, 2-2, will return to action tomorrow night as they host the 2-2 Toronto Raptors at Staples Center.
