Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sounded off on LaVar Ball and the media coverage he receives.
LaVar Ball has received his fair share of criticism lately. Recently, he made comments about Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton and his ability to lead. In unsurprising fashion, NBA coaches are starting to grow weary of the overbearing dad to Lakers point guard, Lonzo Ball. First, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle spoke out against Ball for his comments toward Walton. Next, Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, compared Ball scathingly to the Kardashian’s.
"“I’ve talked to people in the media and said ‘Why do you guys have to cover that guy,’” said Kerr. “They say ‘We don’t want to. Nobody wants to. But our bosses tell us we have to because of the ratings and the readership.’”So somewhere, I guess in Lithuania, LaVar Ball is laughing. People are eating out his hands for no apparent reason. Other than he’s become like the Kardashian of the NBA or something and that sells."
As I wrote yesterday, negative reinforcement is a common way to get attention. It’s also the best way to retain that desired attention. When a child throws a tantrum, and you comfort them/give them what they want, you negatively reinforce their behavior. This is what Kerr is pointing out about the media and their coverage of Ball. Ball is probably overseas laughing because he doesn’t take his comments seriously. But what he does know, is that the media will, and think-pieces and articles will be written about his comments.
Next: LaVar Ball: Luke Walton has lost the team
Every time he speaks, whether it makes sense or it’s outlandish, he gets coverage. The problem now, though, is that being the outspoken dad generally doesn’t work well when your son is playing with grown men.