Lakers News: LaVar Ball Calls for Sons to Join Clippers After Lakers' Lonzo Experience

LaVar Ball is making it clear that he wants his sons to play for the LA Clippers, not the Lakers .

“Here’s the thing, I don’t want to go back to the Lakers on the fact that how you did Lonzo,” LaVar Ball said Lonzo and LiAngelo's podcast "The WAE Show" (as recounted via NBACentral_ “So why can I bring the other two?”

This comes after his eldest son, Lonzo Ball, faced numerous challenges during his time with the Lakers, including injuries that hindered his performance.

The Ball brothers gained fame after winning the California State Championship with Chino Hills High School in 2016, but their paths have diverged since then.

Lonzo has struggled with injuries throughout his career, while his younger brother, LaMelo, recently signed a five-year extension with the Charlotte Hornets. LiAngelo, the middle brother, has yet to make his NBA debut but has spent time in the G League.

LaVar’s frustrations with the Lakers stem from Lonzo's experience with the team. He believes the organization mishandled Lonzo’s career and has no interest in seeing his other sons join the franchise.

Instead, he envisions a future where all three brothers play for the Clippers, expressing admiration for the team's owner and coach.

“I want them all to play for the Clippers,” Ball said. “Steve Ballmer. That's my guy. I like him, I like his style. That's why I tell him ‘My last name Ball. His last name Ballmer. We supposed to ‘Ball More’”.

Lonzo was drafted by the Lakers as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after a standout year at UCLA. Initially, it seemed like a perfect match for the Chino Hills native.

However, injuries plagued him from the start, including a sprained MCL and a shoulder injury in his rookie season. By mid-2018, he underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in his knee.

After being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 as part of the deal for Anthony Davis, Lonzo continued to battle injuries and has not played in the last two seasons.

LaVar Ball's desire for his sons to join the Clippers reflects his disappointment with the Lakers and hope for a better future for his family in the NBA.