Knicks: LaMelo Ball’s father elaborates on why son is perfect for New York
LaVar Ball wants to speak his son being drafted by the New York Knicks into existence.
Basketball fans know plenty about LaVar Ball by now. The vociferous father of NBA player Lonzo Ball is back on the scene as his youngest son, LaMelo, is slated to be picked in the 2020 NBA Draft. And if it was up to him, LaMelo would be going to the New York Knicks.
"“Oh yes, to the end,” LaVar said when asked if he wants his son to be drafted by New York on the podcast Say Less with Kaz."
LaVar has made it no secret that he hopes to see LaMelo wearing a jersey with New York across his chest next season. Appearing on FS1’s Undisputed in early March, he said the Knicks are the “best fit” for the ball-handler who played this past season in the Australian-based National Basketball League (NBL).
SNY later reported that there are people in LaMelo’s circle, other than his father, who would like to see the tall guard call Madison Square Garden home. Those who know the playmaking point guard best clearly believe he is made for the bright lights of Broadway.
LaVar keeps speaking it into existence.
"“[The Knicks] don’t have anything.” LaVar continued. “The last time they won a championship back in the 70s. The bright lights. You need a whole new turnaround over there. The person I want to see him play with, they got to know this, if you’re getting ‘Melo, you’re getting ‘Gelo […] And after that, you have a chance to get ‘Zo. You don’t need one person to change no franchise. You need the whole culture change and that takes all three of my boys […] That would be the biggest show in the NBA ever.”"
LaVar dreams of seeing his three sons playing on the same team in the NBA, so why not in New York? Lonzo is currently in the third year of his rookie scale contract in New Orleans, while LiAngelo recently signed to play with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G-League.
For the Knicks, LaMelo might be the perfect match. Two days prior to LaVar’s comments on Undisputed, Leon Rose took over as the team’s president. The former CAA big wig would like nothing more than to make a splash with a player like LaMelo to finally give Knicks fans the point guard they have been craving since seemingly the days of Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
Ball is reportedly the top point guard on the Knicks draft board. With the sixth best lottery odds, there is a 37.2% chance they land with one of the top 4 picks, which is what it might take to secure Ball.
Of course, New York could always use their extra draft capital – they have the Clippers’ first round pick this year and two extra first round picks coming from Dallas – to trade up if the ping pong balls don’t fall their way.
It could be an interesting time to be a Knicks fan if the Ball Show takes over the World’s Most Famous Arena.