Magic Johnson praised the parenting skills of LaVar Ball, the pesky father of UCLA basketball star Lonzo Ball, and compared him to Kris Jenner, matriarch of the Kardashian clan.
Johnson, president of the Los Angeles Lakers, was obviously juggling both Balls carefully since one of them places so high in the NBA lottery, noted ESPN Los Angeles radio.
The Lakers have the No. 2 pick and Johnson said LaVar Ball's overboard parenting would have no impact on whether the team would draft Lonzo Ball.
"Look, the Kardashians, we didn't say that the mom was bad, and she made them a lot of money, right?" Johnson said referring to Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the "Keeping Up with the Kardashian" reality television show on the E! Network. "She's bragged on her daughters, and I think it's the same here. He's just saying, 'Hey, my son is great,' and there's nothing bad with that."
LaVar Ball has stirred up lots of controversy, including with his own shoe brand, Big Baller Brand that offers a $495 signature shoe for his son, noted Sports Illustrated. He also said that since Lonzo Ball was projected as the No. 2 pick in the draft, shoe companies wishing to co-sponsor a shoe with him would have to pay $3 billion.
When Fox Sports 1 host Kristine Leahy questioned Ball's decision to market Big Baller Brand exclusively to men, he told her to "stay in your lane," per Sports Illustrated.
Leahy has since called Ball's comments "disrespectful to women."
Lonzo Ball averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 assists for the UCLA Bruins during his freshman season and made himself available for the upcoming NBA draft on June 22.
It is not the first time Johnson, the former Laker great who was hired as president in March, had to address concerns about LaVar Ball.
During the NBA combine earlier this month, Johnson addressed with ESPN the possibility of drafting Lonzo Ball despite of his father's controversies.
"I think what you're drafting is the son and not the father," Johnson told ESPN. "I think that you also are gauging and evaluating his son on his ability and what he can do not only on the basketball court but also what he can do for your team. How he can enhance and make your team better."
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