LaVar Ball upset with Lonzo’s playing time: ‘Let him play’

LaVar Ball insisted that once Lonzo reached the NBA, his criticism of coaches would cease. But those promises have fallen on deaf ears and LaVar’s frustrations are already beginning to boil over.

Despite the Los Angeles Lakers performing above early expectations and an apparent chemistry building among teammates, LaVar recently expressed his frustration with Lonzo’s playing time and how it impacts his shooting.

Through 10 games, Lonzo is shooting just 29.9% from the field.

“Let him play the whole fourth quarter and bet you’ll always win. He’ll get into a better flow,” LaVar told Bleacher Report. “The in and out, sitting out six to 10 minutes? He’s not going to take no shots because he’s not in the flow. He don’t want to hurt the team by shooting.”

Lonzo has averaged 33 minutes per game so far this season, so it’s not exactly like he’s riding the pine with regularity. But LaVar insists the rotation and late-game rest has been what’s negatively impacting Lonzo’s shooting.

“You’ve got to shoot the ball,” LaVar said last Friday. “You’re not going to make it if you don’t take it.”

Luke Walton relies on is rotation and believes in it, so LaVar’s cries aren’t likely to result in any sort of change. The reality is, Lonzo is a rookie who is going through some growing pains, but he remains the youthful face of the Lakers franchise and will earn fourth quarter playing time when he begins to shoot better over the first three quarters.