LaVar Ball: LaMelo a Bad Fit with Warriors Because of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson
LaVar Ball is back in the news.
The father off LaMelo Ball—considered one of the top prospects in the 2020 NBA draft class—said on the Say Less with Kaz podcast that he doesn't want to see the Golden State Warriors, who will have a top-five pick, draft his son due to the presence of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (h/t Josh Schrock of NBC Sports):
"That's the part I don't like about Golden State. They got Klay and the other guys, and now you want to put Melo in that mix to say you got to follow these guys. Melo ain't no follower. He don't need to do what they do, let them do they thing.
"There's a reason you are looking at my son. He's talented and can play the game. It ain't that hard. Guy is open, and you pass it to them. You open and you been working on your shot? Shoot the ball. It's fast-paced, it's good. But don't be like Melo got to his turn and wait for two or three years to go by and learn from the veterans. Ain't about that. Can you play or not?
"And when you special, how do you coach somebody special? You just enjoy it, and they special because of the things they do. Enjoy it. Let him do what he does."
To a certain extent, Ball has a point. Generally, getting young, top-five picks as much experience as possible right out of the gate is ideal. With the Warriors, LaMelo would likely spend a few seasons coming off the bench behind Curry and Thompson.
Granted, it would be an excellent place to learn. The Warriors boast a top-notch organization and head coach in Steve Kerr, and learning from Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green would organically grow LaMelo's basketball IQ if he heeded the wisdom they offered.
But Golden State wouldn't give him the chance to lead a team.
Despite that, LaVar Ball believes the Warriors will draft his son if they land the top overall pick and don't trade it for a more established star.
"At the end of the day, this about money and business," he said. "Melo will put people in them seats. That's one thing he can do. Who in the draft going to put people in them seats besides Melo?"
The Dubs don't really need any help filling a crowd with a healthy Curry, Thompson, Green and Andrew Wiggins gunning for a title next year. And frankly, trading their pick for a more established star who could help immediately and would maximize Curry's prime would probably make more sense than grooming a young player like Ball.
Plus, even if they kept the pick, the Warriors could take another player altogether at a position of greater need. Add it all up, and the marriage seems unlikely.
