Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant’s dad isn’t out of line with his thoughts on LaVar Ball

Some are of the mind to ‘mind your own business’. But for the father of Chicago Cubs’ slugger Kris Bryant, it simply became time to speak up. Mike Bryant gave his thoughts on the enigmatic LaVar Ball.

I’ll be honest. I’ve not been a big fan of the NBA for several years. I love the Chicago Cubs and every other Chicago professional sports teams–well, almost all of them–but the intensity in which I follow them varies. For a short time, Derrick Rose brought me back to the Bulls. But it’s really been since Michael Jordan since I’ve been a “true” fan of the NBA.

But LaVar Ball, father of Lonzo Ball–one of the top potential NBA Draft picks–has drawn me in. And it’s for all the wrong reasons. The man is constantly in the news for anything he can be in the news for. From saying he could beat Jordan one-on-one in his prime (He averaged just over two points per game in his one year at Washington State), to his feud with Charles Barkley and his words for Lebron James and his kids–which James didn’t take kindly too.

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Now, on ESPN 1000, Mike Bryant, Kris Bryant‘s father, couldn’t help but put in his two cents on the matter. Was it necessary? Maybe not. But in his case, he’s helped Kris become one of the best players in the game today. He’s not taken the focus of his kid and put it on himself.

"“The guy is going to ruin it for his kids. I mean that in a sympathetic/empathetic way. Let his kids go out there and play and let the rest happen. But to compare him to Michael Jordan and better than Steph Curry, c’mon, that’s disrespecting those guys. If I had five minutes with him and I could get him to listen for two of them I think I could get him to think a little bit.”"

As far as turning Ball around with five minutes with him? Those are high hopes. Ball continues to be separated from reality with some of the things he says. I don’t disagree with the elder Bryant. The way things are trending, Ball’s behavior could sabotage his kid’s success in the long run. We can’t guarantee that will happen, but it wouldn’t be the first time that it does.

Parents have gotten in the way before

"“How can you have fun when you’re worried about your old man making a fool of himself,” Bryant said. “There’s ways to do it. I’m not trying to be judgmental. I feel for the kid in this situation. There are too many stories out there that don’t turn out well because of stuff like this.”"

I don’t know what the dynamic is between Ball and his sons. But from an outside perspective, it doesn’t look good to me. While he should be rallying behind his three very talented sons on the basketball court, he finds it more important to talk about his “fantasy” conquests and how much money Lonzo will make on his first shoe deal.

"“A billion dollars,” Ball said. “It has to be there. That’s our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don’t even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 million over 10 years.”"

The keyword there is “me”. He tries to save it with us, but it’s all about “me”. The way I see it, Bryant was nothing more than a concerned parent. Sometimes you can sit idly by and just watch things happen. He may be drawn into the circus that is LaVar Ball. But I would stand behind everything he said.