Lonzo Ball is finally speaking out about the early days of his NBA career, and he's not holding back. The former No. 2 overall pick recently admitted that he wishes he had taken the reins from his father, LaVar Ball, much sooner.
In a candid conversation on the Curious Mike podcast with Michael Porter Jr., Lonzo reflected on how his dad's larger-than-life presence shaped—and sometimes overshadowed—his rookie years with the Los Angeles Lakers. "I think he had a huge influence on it, bro," Ball said. "To be honest… I think he damn near made it to where they had to pick me. Really, to a point, I really do feel like that."
The Lakers selected Ball second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft out of UCLA, passing on Jayson Tatum, who would go on to lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship. Looking back, Lonzo believes his father's relentless media blitz played a part in that decision.
But the influence didn't stop at draft night. LaVar famously steered Lonzo away from lucrative shoe deals with major brands to launch Big Baller Brand, a move that backfired spectacularly. "It wasn't a basketball shoe, bro. It wasn't ready to be used," Lonzo recalled. "So I tried to play in it, but they would rip and pop out like every quarter."
The shoes were so unreliable that Lonzo's manager, Darren Moore, kept backup pairs in his backpack, ready to hand over the moment a shoe blew out. "I'm like, 'I can't play like this, bro.' And right when I changed my shoes, I started playing great again," Ball said.
Now, with years of hindsight, Lonzo acknowledges the double-edged sword of his upbringing. "I literally was just hooping and following my pops, listening to my pops…I was just doing what I was told really," he said. "I guess that would be my one regret, like taking control of my career earlier. The way I was raised was like a blessing and a curse."
While LaVar's antics have faded from the spotlight, Lonzo's career has had its own ups and downs. After stints with the Pelicans and Bulls, he spent the 2025-26 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, appearing in 35 games and averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Lonzo's honesty about his past is refreshing, and it echoes a broader conversation about parental influence in professional sports. For now, he remains an unsigned free agent, but his willingness to own his mistakes might be the first step toward a fresh chapter.
As for LaVar, his legacy is complicated. He was a master marketer who put his son in the spotlight, but at what cost? Lonzo's story serves as a cautionary tale for young athletes navigating the pressures of fame. It's a reminder that sometimes, the loudest voice in the room isn't the one that should be making the calls.
For now, Lonzo is focused on the future, but he's not shying away from the lessons of the past. "I was just doing what I was told," he said. It's a phrase that carries weight, especially for a player who's learned the hard way that taking control of your own path is essential.
