The Charlotte Hornets selected LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Heading into Wednesday night, the organization telegraphed the move by leaking to the media that team owner Michael Jordan had “given his stamp of approval for the front office to select LaMelo.”
One of the more intriguing side plots related to LaMelo landing in Charlotte is his father’s past trash talk directed at the team owner. You will recall, back in 2017, LaVar insisted that he would easily defeat Jordan in a game of 1-on-1.
“Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one,” he said. “I would just back (Jordan) in and lift him off the ground and call a foul every time he fouls me when I do a jump hook to the right or the left. He cannot stop me one-on-one. He better make every shot ’cause he can’t go around me.
“He’s not fast enough. And he can only make so many shots outside before I make every bucket under the rim.”
LaMelo is officially ready for the league. #NBADraft https://t.co/HDnFLQQqzJ
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 19, 2020
LaVar averaged just over two points per game in college, so his assertion was met with a bit of dubiousness.
“It doesn’t deserve a response, but I’ma give it to you because you asked the question,” Jordan replied. “I don’t think he could beat me if I was one-legged.”
LaVar later back-tracked on his initial statement during an interview with ESPN 850 WKNR in Cleveland.
Poor Kyle Kuzma out here catching strays. https://t.co/AoWC9QuGv6
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 18, 2020
“Look at everybody, man,” he said. “Everybody used to say, ‘You know, I think Wilt Chamberlain is better than Shaq; I think Oscar Robertson is better than LeBron.’ Now the story is LaVar is better than Michael Jordan.
“C’mon, I didn’t even play basketball in the pros and they’re talking about me and Michael Jordan. That’s what I’m talking about. He tells me he can beat me with one leg. Well, guess what: I can beat him with one hand. Now we both look like we out there like we can’t play.”
So given that backstory, how does Jordan really feel about the father of his new star player?
By all accounts, he doesn’t mind him one iota. Leading up to the draft Jordan was described as a “fan” of LaMelo’s and one of his most vocal supporters in the organization.
Yikes. https://t.co/9PwWKJnIcH
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 18, 2020
The greatest player of all time apparently feels very strongly about LaMelo’s ability to upgrade a Hornets backcourt that currently consists of Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier. And because of the confidence that Jordan has in his new 20-year-old prospect, he is more than willing to put up with a little jibber-jabber from LaVar.
The reality is that the Hornets had conversations with LaMelo prior to the draft, and if there was any actual lingering bad blood between LaVar and Jordan, the front office would not have wasted their third overall pick on LaMelo.
By all accounts, the hatchet has been buried. Now all parties involved are focused on what’s most important – putting LaMelo in the best possible position to win.
Related: Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball Has A Warning For Hornets Star LaMelo
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
