With the second overall draft pick at the 2017 NBA Draft ceremony, held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Thursday (June 22), the Los Angeles Lakers chose 19-year-old point guard Lonzo Ball.
His aggressively passionate father LaVar, who made headlines for controversial comments involving his son’s superior skills, was interviewed after Lonzo was drafted. He said that he knew his son would be drafted to the Lakers nearly 20 years ago, and that he’s going to bring the L.A. boys back to the Playoffs in his first year on the team.
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“I knew this was happening before it was happening!” he told reporters of his son’s NBA glo-up. “[I knew] when he was a baby…it’s a wonderful feeling, but I already knew it was coming to him. Lonzo Ball is going to take the Lakers to the playoffs his first year. Come see me when he does. I’ll have another hat on to say ‘I told you so.'”
Mr. Ball had a Lakers-style hat on for the occasion, which featured his personal brand’s logo on the front. He threw the hat into the stands as he was booed while leaving the Barclays Center.
#LaVarBall being booed out of the @barclayscenter – BTW @Lakers fans are booing too…😂#NBADraft | NBA #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/1Mscp1v9Mx
— A2D Radio (@a2dradio_com) June 23, 2017
Twitter had a lot to say about LaVar. Check out some of the comments below.
How Lavar Ball & Lonzo Ball will walk into Laker Practice #NBAdraft2017 pic.twitter.com/U5wshkdJ4G
— I Do Not care (@iamreal2017) June 23, 2017
Lavar ball: “Lonzo taking them to the playoffs the first year”
Lonzo: #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/D1xEgkB3gN
— Motivate Athlete (@MotiveAthelete) June 23, 2017
LONZO TO LAKERS. LAVAR BALL WINS. #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/ZE4OdOYuCS
— Cycle (@bycycle) June 22, 2017
“LaVar Ball, LaVar Burton, LaVar Arrington, Kendrick Lamar… don’t matter. Cavs winning the East again.” #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/8lL6bkNJXD
— Patrick Andres (@PAndres2001) June 22, 2017