John Calipari has presumably dealt with all kinds of different basketball fathers through the years. But he’s never had anyone as high-profile as Lavar Ball.
So how would he deal with somebody like Lavar?
“I don’t know,” Calipari said in advance of Kentucky’s game with UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic in New Orleans on Saturday. “Probably if I was in that situation, I would think about it. The one thing that I want you all to understand, the way he presents stuff I may not agree with, but what I do love is he loves his sons.
“He is a father who loves, loves his sons. And you’ve gotta respect that. I mean, there are many kids out there who would love to have a father who paid that much attention to him. So, how he presents some things maybe I don’t agree with, but there are some other people in the country presenting things in ways that I don’t agree with either.”
Lavar Ball has made all kinds of news of late, most recently announcing his plans for a new pro league for high school graduates set to begin next summer.
His two younger sons, LiAngelo (formerly of UCLA) and LaMelo, (formerly of Chino Hills), won’t be competing in the league, however. They’re due to begin playing professionally in Lithuania next month.
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