LaVar Ball says comments about UCLA’s slow white players were ‘twisted’

LaVar Ball said Friday that comments he made to the Southern California News Group about UCLA’s white basketball players on Thursday were misunderstood.

In an interview with ESPN 710, the father of former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball showed support for white players he said lacked the foot speed to win a national championship.

“I love those guys,” LaVar Ball said. “I’m not saying I don’t like white guys and we lost because of them. No – that’s how they twisted it up.”

On Thursday, the elder Ball revealed his son pulled a hamstring in UCLA’s loss to Kentucky on March 24 in the NCAA Tournament, adding, “realistically, you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow.”

He was likely referring to UCLA’s three white starters: TJ Leaf, Bryce Alford and Thomas Welsh.

Leaf is a projected first-round draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft and Welsh, a junior, likely has a future in the NBA. Alford will graduate UCLA as the fifth-leading scorer in school history.

“I love Bryce because he’s (UCLA coach Steve) Alford’s son and he’s always been nice to me,” Ball told ESPN 710. “TJ Leaf – Zo’s friend, always nice and respectful. Thomas Welsh – one of the most intelligent players, very nice, respectful.

“But like I said, they’re going to do their thing and we’re going to do our thing. So don’t wear your feelings on your sleeve and think it’s a direct punch at you guys because it’s not.”

Ball said Thursday his son’s hamstring injury prevented him from taking over the Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky. He clarified on Friday he wasn’t blaming Leaf, Welsh or Alford for the defeat.

“I blame one person every time they lose that it’s the same person all the time. It’s my son,” Ball said. “He’s at the head of the front and I blame him regardless if he had 30 points and 20 assists. It doesn’t matter. It’s already been said. Like he said, he didn’t make enough plays for his team to win.”

Lonzo Ball, a finalist for the John R. Wooden award given to college basketball’s most outstanding player, helped UCLA to a 31-5 record in his lone college season.

The 6-foot-6 point guard has declared for the NBA draft and is expected to be among the top selections June 22.