Ex-NFL Tight End LaVar Ball Doubles Down On Criticism Of LeBron James And His Kids

Former NFL tight end LaVar Ball made quite a scathing comment earlier this week about how the children of star athletes rarely ever become as prolific sports stars as their parents, and cited Allen Iverson and LeBron James as examples.

Ex-NFL Star LaVar Ball Reiterates Comments on Star Athletes’s Kids, Including LeBron James’

James, understandably angered by the suggestion that his kids will likely not be as successful as he is should they plan to pursue a professional basketball career, fired back at Ball, saying “keep my kids’ names out of your mouth.”

However, Ball has stood by his comments, and repeated them on Sirius XM on Wednesday.

Here are Ball’s full comments from Wednesday: “I gave an opinion on what I felt about no superstars’ kids really being superstars and the fact that they have to live up to their parents or to their fathers or whatever. I have yet to see one, and I’ve been around for 50 years,” Ball said in an interview with SiriusXM’s ‘Full Ride.’ “Have you seen one where the superstar’s son is just as good or better than him? I said a superstar. I ain’t saying just a regular player. I’m talking about a guy who we picture as an icon — a Dr. J, an Allen Iverson, a LeBron James. If somebody asks me a question, I’m gonna give them an answer.”

Ball’s son Lonzo is a freshman guard for the UCLA’ Bruins‘ men’s basketball team, which is playing in the NCAA Tournament (they will face Kentucky on Friday).

Lonzo’s two younger brothers, 18-year-old LiAngelo and 15-year-old LaMelo, will also attend UCLA on scholarships in the next few years.

In his initial interview with Chris Broussard on the In the Zone podcast, here is what Ball said:

“The monsters in the NBA, their dads wasn’t that good,” Ball said. “They were OK, they was players, but the fact that the old [Dell] Curry wasn’t no All-Star, he wasn’t cold. He could shoot the ball, though. Kobe Bryant, his dad wasn’t all that, that’s why he’s such a monster.

“You got LeBron, it’s going to be hard for his kids because they are going to look at them like, ‘You got to be just like your dad.’ And after a while, that pressure starts sitting on you like, ‘Why do I got to be just like him? What can’t I just be me?’ And then they are going to be like, ‘Aw, you’re soft, you’re not that good.’ Because the expectation is very, very high.”

Ball also added that James’ success would prevent him from helping his sons develop their own professional sports careers.

“Let’s say I really excelled in football and made millions and millions of dollars. Do I spend that time with them now? No, I’ve got the offseason, I’ve got to worry about myself. Now I just buy you everything. Now I get you a trainer and hope you turn out to be OK,” Ball said on the podcast. “Whereas the fact that I wasn’t all that, allows me to spend all that time to make my boys all that.”

As soon as James heard Ball brought his sons LeBron Jr. (12 years old) and Bryce (age 9) into the discussion, the Cleveland Cavaliers star rushed to defend his family’s honor.

“He can talk all about his brand, talk about his sons, talk about basketball, talk about me,” James told ESPN on Tuesday. “But keep my family out of this.”

James’ statement sounds like a very reasonable and assertive (but not aggressive) response.

Ball called the Cavs forward “touchy” after the four-time NBA MVP told ESPN that Ball’s mention of his children “is a problem now.”

James added that he has much respect for Lonzo Ball.

“I actually like [Lonzo],” James told ESPN on Tuesday. “I like his game.”

This isn’t the first time James has criticized someone for uttering false or insensitive comments. Earlier this season, he called out a New York Daily News reporter for falsely publishing a story claiming his teammate Kevin Love would be traded to another NBA team, possibly the New York Knicks. James called the reporter and his story “trash.”

The Cavaliers (46-23, 1st in Eastern Conference) last defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 125-120 on Sunday, and next visit the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during the second half against the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the 2016 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.