LaVar Ball Insists Lonzo Ball-Led Lakers Would've Won Championships

LaVar Ball believes the Lakers would have multiple titles if they had kept his son Lonzo on the team.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:09am

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LaVar Ball, the outspoken father of former Lakers player Lonzo Ball, claims the Lakers would have won multiple championships by now if they had kept his son on the team instead of trading him in 2019 as part of the deal to acquire Anthony Davis. Ball believes Lonzo's playmaking and ability to make his teammates better would have led the Lakers to titles.

Why it matters

LaVar Ball's comments highlight the ongoing debate around the Lakers' decision to trade Lonzo Ball, who was drafted 2nd overall by the team in 2017. While the Lakers went on to win a championship with Anthony Davis, some argue they may have had even more success by keeping Lonzo and building around him.

The details

During the 2017 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Lonzo Ball with the 2nd overall pick, passing on Jayson Tatum who many felt would have been a better fit. Lonzo played two seasons for the Lakers before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 as part of the deal to acquire Anthony Davis. LaVar Ball, Lonzo's outspoken father, believes the Lakers made a mistake in trading his son, and that with Lonzo leading the team, they would have won multiple championships by now.

  • Lonzo Ball was drafted by the Lakers in 2017.
  • Lonzo played two seasons for the Lakers before being traded in 2019.
  • The Lakers won the NBA championship in 2020 after acquiring Anthony Davis.

The players

Lonzo Ball

A former 2nd overall draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers who was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019.

LaVar Ball

The outspoken father of Lonzo Ball who believes the Lakers would have won multiple championships if they had kept his son on the team.

Anthony Davis

An NBA superstar who the Lakers acquired in a trade with the Pelicans in 2019, helping the team win the championship that year.

Jayson Tatum

A star player for the Boston Celtics who many felt the Lakers should have drafted instead of Lonzo Ball in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“He's been groomed to make everybody better. Right, from UCLA days, the Chino Hills days. How you make the best team? You got to have that piece right? Make everybody go. Average a triple double, but you got to let him go. Everybody who's balling out of control came from the Lakers. Zo had them all running. They would've had championships by now.”

— LaVar Ball

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around the Lakers' decision to trade Lonzo Ball, with his outspoken father LaVar insisting the team would have won multiple championships by now if they had kept Lonzo. While the Lakers did go on to win a title after acquiring Anthony Davis, some argue they may have had even greater success by building around Lonzo's playmaking and ability to elevate his teammates.