Lakers majority owner Jeanie Buss and team president Magic Johnson offered public support to coach Luke Walton today for the first time since last week’s disparaging comments from LaVar Ball, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Buss went first, tweeting a photo of herself with GM Rob Pelinka and Walton, accompanied by the hashtag #InLukeWeTrust.
Johnson followed with a pair of tweets, reading “So proud of my @Lakers players and Coach Walton for winning their 4th game in a row against the Mavericks” (Twitter link) and “Coach Luke Walton has the @Lakers playing some of their best basketball of the season right now.” (Twitter link)
L.A. has won four straight games since Ball, the father of rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, claimed Walton has lost the team and that players no longer support him.
Rumors emerged Friday that the Lakers might have interest in former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale. Sources told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that Buss was concerned about the situation and wanted to make her support for Walton clear.
“Jeanie has always been great,” Walton said. “There is no doubt that they support me. I haven’t seen the tweet, but again, I don’t have Twitter. But I know they support [me and the coaching staff].”
The front office tried to ignore LaVar Ball’s comments so it wouldn’t be seen as responding to the parent of a player. A Lakers source recently told Shelburne there’s “not even a conversation” about replacing Walton, who still has three seasons left on a five-year contract reportedly worth $25MM.
We’re they waiting for him to win more games lol
sell Ball to China
If they really backed him they would’ve said something when they lost 9 straight and LaVar opened his mouth again. It’s not a good look to do it after a 4 Game winning streak.
Agreed
Trade Lonzo to Lithuania
Not Walton’s fault he has a roster of young kids and a player whose father is a distraction.
Wow, LaVar, a pissant looking for more pissing contests…
The article is correct. Responding to lavar ball is a mistake, better to ignore him. It was ESPN that made a big deal about lavar’s unsubstantiated claims. It’s entirely unprofessional to respond to these things, and the on it reason they did was ESPN forced them to. Lavar ball didn’t cause a problem in LA, ESPN did.
Too little and too late. Johnson and Buss should have come out and fined Lonzo for the actions/comments of his father. Wouldn’t be anything new – NBA teams have fined others for the actions of their entourage. Maybe loosing some cash will make Lonzo man up and tell Daddy to take is brand elsewhere.
As much as I hate everything about LaVar and his family (I’m sure a lot of you people do as well), I think it would be stupid for the team to fine Lonzo for what his dad says. Doing that would make LaVar speak out more, and that’s the last thing we’d want to see/hear lol
Off topic, but couldn’t the lakers trade Clarkson or even Randle to Phoenix for Greg Monroe, and wave Bogut? I mean Minroe is a vet who could share the minutes with Looez and give value.
Lol why did it take so long to show support. The lakers are a joke run by Lavar Ball
If the Lakers were run by LaVar, you’d see a Big Baller logo on the halfcourt circle. That and LiAngelo and LaMelo would be playing for the Lakers.
I like whoever said the only way to handle LaVar is to stoop lower than he does!