Lavar Ball is just a proud black father and he should be applauded, not scorned

Lavar is passionate about his sons and he believes in their ability to play basketball at the highest level, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

Lavar Ball told us that his youngest son LaMelo is the best out of his three sons and so far that looks about right. Lavar has always been his son’s biggest fan and he should get more praise for what he has done with his three boys.

LaMelo Ball was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft and he has been taking the league by storm. LaMelo is the runaway favorite to win rookie of the year and since being inserted in the starting lineup on Feb. 1 Lamelo has averaged 19.4 points, 6.4 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.

“Everybody is shocked at what Melo is doing now and here’s the thing: When all three of them get on the same team it’s going to be the biggest thing in the NBA,” Ball told the LA Times.

Like him or not, Lavar Ball has done a great job with his sons. Lonzo and LaMelo are the only brothers to both be picked top three in the draft. At one point, Lonzo Liangelo and LaMelo were all in the NBA.

The absence of a black father is a stereotype for black people and it is an issue that the black community must address. However, Lavar is the opposite. He has been heavily involved in all his son’s lives but now he is being criticized for being too involved… so which one is it? Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was very critical of Lavar’s “tactics.”

I just feel sadness, from the media that they have given this guy a platform. He represents everything that’s bad about sports,” Barkley said on ESPN’s “Golic and Wingo” show. “Everyone talks about how he’s being a good father… no he’s not, he’s exploiting his kids.”

Lavar should be commended for being an example of the positive impact a black father has on his children and not be criticized by another black man in the media for doing so.

Lavar is passionate about his sons and he believes in their ability to play basketball at the highest level, regardless of what anyone else thinks. There’s no denying Lavar’s impact on the attention his sons have got and he knows that the more “outlandish” things he says, the more attention it brings to his sons. I don’t believe if Lavar stayed quiet that Lonzo would have gone number two overall.

Lavar is another example of how the media will try to tear down the black man any chance they get. As a young black man whose father is heavily involved in my life, I know first hand the positive impact of black fathers. I want Lavar to applauded and not scrutinized for being overly involved in his sons’ lives.

Miles Johnson is a sophomore Communications major and sports journalism minor at Morehouse College.