LOS ANGELES – Of course life as a Ball Brother hasn’t always been easy.
Growing up under the shadow of LaVar Ball’s braggadocio had targets painted on the backs of Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo as long as they could remember. A brilliant plan by LaVar to instill toughness and garner attention? Maybe, but the only ones that seem to question the methodology of it all these years later are those on the outside or those that live in jealousy.
Still, there was Lonzo late Monday night, sitting in front of his locker and answering questions about all the critics he and his brothers had to deal with growing up in nearby Anaheim and playing ball at Chino Hills.
He was even asked if those critics somehow owed the Ball family an apology.
“I don’t think so,” the laid-back Ball said. “I think everybody is entitled to their opinion. Some people like us, some people don’t. It definitely doesn’t change my life. I’m just blessed and go out there every day and try to be the best me.”
As well he should be.
And as far as existing critics for the Ball Brothers? What’s there left to be critical about really?
Lonzo has made one of the comeback stories in recent sports history, returning from a left knee procedure that no professional athlete has ever come back from, the youngest of three, LaMelo, is leading the Eastern Conference All-Star voting for guards, and so much for middle-child syndrome as LiAngelo has jumped feet first into the rap game, landing a record deal with Def Jam in the wake of his single, “Tweaker.”
The present is bright and the immediate future even brighter.
Lonzo Ball just doesn’t know where that is.
The Bulls reserve is a free agent after this season, and has seen his name pop up more than once in trade rumors the last few months. Then there’s always the lingering promise by dad that the Ball Brothers will play together on an NBA team at some point.
If LaVar is speaking that into existence it would be this offseason. LaMelo is in trade rumors to get out of Charlotte – a longshot at best – Lonzo can go anywhere he wants, and LiAngelo has stepped away from his NBA career for now, but could jump right back in.
Could one of the Los Angeles teams be the meeting point for all three? After all, Lonzo was a Laker out of UCLA back in 2017.
“It’s part of my journey, but it’s always nice coming back here and playing in front of my people,” Lonzo said when asked about still thinking about playing for his hometown team. “LA has rocked with me from the beginning.”
As far as looking to come back and play in Los Angeles, Ball didn’t say no.
“Wherever I’m at that’s what I focus on,” Ball said. “I don’t look too far in the future, just take it day by day.”
The same mentality he’s had with the Bulls in his return this season. The good news for the point guard is his day by days are adding up.
Ball was cleared to start the season, but just four games in suffered a wrist injury and missed 15 games in late October and into November. But the hear-we-go-again quickly turned into consistency, with the only skips coming with back-to-backs.
Since Dec. 28, Ball has played in 11 of the team’s last 13 games – he’s still not cleared for back-to-backs – while watching his minutes restrictions stretched out to 26 minutes-plus in the win over the Clippers on Monday.
If there was a time for an NBA team to take that leap of faith and try and acquire him, it’s now. That’s what the Bulls are hoping for as the Feb. 6 trade deadline draws near.
Don’t count it out. Never count out a Ball.