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Luke Walton jokes he subbed out Lonzo Ball because "his dad was talking sh--"
In addition to coaching the NBA's second-youngest team, Luke Walton has to deal with the world's most annoying stage parent. But while the Lakers' leader has only guided his squad to 12 wins as we near the NBA season's mid-point, he already provided a press conference response that will be tough to top in 2018.
Following an ESPN report over the weekend in which LaVar Ball, the blowhard dad of Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, claimed Walton has lost control of the team and that players "don't want to play for him." LaVar has now tried to meddle in his three sons' coaches at the NBA, college, and high school levels, so this is nothing new.
Walton initially handled the report well, and then made light of the situation following the Lakers' win on Sunday night, which snapped a nine-game skid. When asked why he subbed out Lonzo earlier than usual in both the first and third quarters, this was Walton's response:
Well played, Luke.
Funny, it's always the coach's fault to this guy. And it's only a matter of time before he starts ripping the guy who is currently coaching his other two sons in Lithuania after he pulled them out of their respective schools. That guy also happens to sell meat out of his car, but yeah, LaVar, let's focus on Luke Walton and blame him for Lonzo's slow start. Makes sense.