Charles Barkley gave an interview on ESPN saying he thinks Lavar is exploiting his children.His only goal is to grow his Big Ball brand.he takes his middle son out of school,and now both his younger sons are playing pro ball in Europe...they will be well compensated playing there,and neither of them would ever make an NBA roster anyway ,they will also be involved with Big Ball brand,and will live more luxurious life styles than anyone on this forum could imagine..so is this exploiting his children or just looking out for their best interests? your thoughts?
Is Lavar Ball exploiting his kids?
- Thread starter Canadian Dukie
- Start date
Personally i think he’s trying to capitalize on his five minutes. I don’t know about the other two in terms of basketball skill and talent but from what i hear they are not NbA material, so this is the only chance to get paid to play i guess. Secondly i don’t know how much they will actually be paid in that hodunk town of 300 people. Is he exploiting them? Absolutely. I said it in the other thread but i feel bad for those kids. Because even if it is all an act, and it probably is, don’t put your kids in the middle of it. Bc as Lonzo is finding out, he’s the one having to write the checks his fathers mouth can’t cash.
He just wants the attention and the media is fueling the fire. If everyone would ignore him, he’d eventually go away.
Has anyone seen the arena they're team plays in? It's literally comparable to every elementary school gym in my county. I've read they're only making ~$500/month, but that it's okay money there and they're actually playing for Lithuania's semi-pro team (similar to our G-League). Also, apparently Lithuania is a pretty racist country according to what I've read and have heard others say - though I have no idea if that's true. I've read a few places that either the owner or the coach of the team has stated he doesn't like to have more than a few black people on his team because then they get out of control.
All that to say LaVar doesn't seem to be putting these kids in the ideal situation here. Maybe it all works out. But I can't imagine being 16 and wanting to go live in eastern Europe instead of enjoying being the star of my high school and potentially the big man on campus should he had been cleared to play college ball. LaVar is living vicariously through his kids and using his kids to benefit himself and his company. And hey, maybe they benefit from it, too. Maybe not, we don't know right now. But it seems clear to me that he's using what he has (his kids) to make himself successful.
All that to say LaVar doesn't seem to be putting these kids in the ideal situation here. Maybe it all works out. But I can't imagine being 16 and wanting to go live in eastern Europe instead of enjoying being the star of my high school and potentially the big man on campus should he had been cleared to play college ball. LaVar is living vicariously through his kids and using his kids to benefit himself and his company. And hey, maybe they benefit from it, too. Maybe not, we don't know right now. But it seems clear to me that he's using what he has (his kids) to make himself successful.
Last edited:
What if i told you, these balls busted quickly. That it only took two pumps in Lithuania to blow a huge load of potential.
Euro ball clubs pay is different but it’s sad unless he makes the youngest go back to high school.
I just think he's a control freak that is out of control. Just imagine what he would be like if he did have a position of power. He would be an interesting study for the sociology dept. at Duke University. In words of the great Barney Fife. "He's a nut." OFC
I think you're on to something, Sky. He's certainly an attention *****, but he definitely loves the control he has over his kids.
OFC
He might be a nut but he was somehow able to manufacture enough “hype” around his son that even Magic was suckered into drafting him. Actually it was probably more of a combination of Magic’s poor eye for talent and the Ball hype machine. Regardless I think we will see Lavar as the Lakers head coach before we hear Magic concede that he made a colossal error with the Lonzo selection.