Speaking on Vlad TV recently, LaVar Ball aimed another shot at Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Talking about Team USA’s recent failure to come back from the FIBA World Cup with a gold medal, Ball claimed that Kerr “cannot coach.” This comes a few years after Ball had initially called Kerr the “Mini Vanilli” of coaching. Despite being loaded with talent, the Anthony Edwards’led Team USA fell short at the semifinal mark against Germany.
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Initially talking about former Lakers’ head coach and Kerr’s assistant Luke Walton, the Ball brothers’ father claimed that he hated “being right all the time.” Ball then went on to claim that his son Lonzo was a much better player than Stephen Curry, and only needed the right situation in order to succeed.
LaVar Ball references Team USA’s FIBA World Cup showing to aim dig at Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr, a 4-time NBA champion as a coach, was selected as Team USA’s head coach for the tournament in Indonesia. Despite a quick start led by Anthony Edwards, Team USA lost a total of 3 games at the tournament.
They went up against Canada for a bronze medal but ended up losing due to big performances from Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, and Dillon Brooks. LaVar Ball, who was asked about his previous comments on Luke Walton, ended up talking about Kerr as well:
“He got food because he was standing next to Steve Kerr in San Francisco. And then they are like, “ohh, LaVar said Steve Kerr can’t coach.” Hey man, just because I got my opinion, and I know what goes on and I know how to see things. Did we get a medal? Who was the coach? We didn’t get no medal. I hate being right all the goddamn’ time.”
Walton had previously been the Lakers’ head coach with Lonzo Ball on the roster. However, Ball, according to his father, was not given the kind of role that he deserved. LaVar went on to claim that Lonzo was a much better player than even Stephen Curry, and only needed the right team to succeed:
“Yes, stronger, faster, shoot better. Put him in the right predicament, let’s go. Longer, younger, just the notoriety they have got.”
While quite a few fans will have an issue with his comments on both Curry and Kerr, admittedly, LaVar can be forgiven for having a biased opinion. The biggest supporter of his sons right from the start, he never missed an opportunity to hype up the Ball brothers.
LaVar Ball called Steve Kerr the “Mini Vanilli” of coaching
Back in 2021, LaVar had aimed similarly harsh comments at Steve Kerr. He claimed that Kerr’s championship winners were put together by former coach Mark Jackson. However, Kerr was called a great coach simply because he was in the right place at the right time, according to the LA Times:
“Coaching is not hard. I mean, anybody can be a coach. Look at Steve Kerr. He’s the Milli Vanilli of coaching, which I mean is, you can go stand at the same spot like Luke Walton did and win 27 games when you got the right horses just running. As soon as they win a championship, everybody says, ‘Oh! He’s a great coach!’ That team was put together by Mark Jackson and now [Kerr] jump up and try and take all the credit. That’s why I call him the Milli Vanilli of coaching.”
While neither of the Ball Brothers have until now played under Kerr, their father seems to have his mind set on his coaching talent. The fact that Team USA came empty-handed from the 2023 World Cup has given LaVar another reason to aim at the legendary coach.
