The Los Angeles Lakers plan to begin enforcing what has been known as the “LaVar Ball rule” this season by barring media members from being in an area reserved for family and friends of players after games.
“It’s not a new policy; it’s an existing policy,” a Lakers spokesperson told ESPN. “There has been more media presence in that area than before. That section is strictly for family and guests of players. It’s a privacy concern.”
The Lakers also have barred all but those who are credentialed from being on the court.
LaVar Ball, the father of rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, did an interview on the court on opening night, but has not done so since.
Lavar Ball has used some of these interviews to criticize the Lakers’ coaching staff for being too soft on his son and for benching him often in the fourth quarter.
For the Win’s Charles Curtis predicted Monday the rule enforcement will backfire on the Lakers management, pointing out that Lavar Ball is very outspoken and has many outlets, such as Twitter and a number of sports network shows on which he has previously appeared, that he can use to get his point across.
“The Lakers knew what they were getting into when they drafted Lonzo,” Curtis said, “and it’s too late to cover that up.”
Twitter users tended to agree with Curtis.
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