LaVar Ball’s relationship with head coaches at all levels has often been a strenuous one at best. LaMelo left Chino Hills because of a disagreement in philosophy between LaVar and the head coach. At the professional level, LaVar butted heads often with Luke Walton during Lonzo Ball’s time in Los Angeles and never got on the same page with LaMelo and LiAngelo’s head coach in Lithuania.
Ball’s latest comments about a head coach, though, were largely positive even if it came with a side of shade. During an interview on Complex’s Load Management podcast, LaVar talked about Lonzo’s turnaround this season, blaming last season’s struggles on then-Laker head coach Luke Walton and complimenting current Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry as well.
“It’s good watching him on the fact that he has a coach that believes in him finally. Lonzo’s healthy. He always played the same to me. It’s just giving the opportunity. Now they’re like ‘Ok Lonzo, here’s the keys, do what you do.’ He’s very good at making everybody around him better. So, to see him play his old style, it’s good. I never doubted him. He was with the Lakers and I was like ‘He’s not playing his way because the coach don’t know how to use him.’ Some of these guys are stuck on ‘He’s a rookie, he’s got to learn from veterans.’ He’s got to learn what? He knows how to pass the ball. He knows how to play the game. Let him play.
Even (Alvin) Gentry, he tried to experiment and try to have Lonzo come with the second unit off the bench. I had to tell him ‘My son is not a role player man. You’re never going to get the best out of him.’..Only thing different in the situation and it’s not me and the place where he’s at, it’s the coaching. Luke (Walton) and (Alvin) Gentry. Two different coaches.”
LaVar’s delusions aside, the biggest difference in Lonzo’s game this season has been his health, which is something no head coach can change. Ball had already played a career-high 56 games this season prior to the suspension of the season.
His minutes did incrementally increase this year as he played 32.4 minutes per contest, two more than last season but down still from his rookie season. His revamped jumper also played a big role in his improvement this season as well.
And while Ball found a coach that plays a style that suits him best, that is far from the only reason for his improvements this year.