LaVar Ball is known for making outrageous comments and never holding back. Often times, that leads to some controversy with the Big Baller Brand patriarch’s brash comments landing him in hot water. That was the case last week when Ball appeared on ESPN First Take and had an awkward exchange with host Molly Qerim.
Ball made a comment to Qerim that she could “switch gears” with him anytime.
That led to some outrage on social media with Ball critics saying the comments were “inappropriate” and sexual in nature. As a result of the comments, Ball was effectively banned by the network and will reportedly not be asked back for further appearances.
Ball, however, didn’t seem to be bothered by the reports of his ESPN “ban” and he even went as far to say that Qerim is the one to blame for blowing his comments out of proportion. Ball insists his comments were not meant to be sexual but seems to be ready to move on from the controversy.
Ball was asked about his comments before taking in a Drew League game for his son LaMelo when he publicly dismissed them.
“How am I gonna be banned? I don’t work for them. I gotta be banned from ESPN? I got my own show,” LaVar said.
“I don’t even have to respond to that on the fact that I meant no sexual intent. Nothing on the fact that ‘switch gears’ means change topics to me. Her mind in the gutter and she think of something else. Only time I hit on her is if she’s breaking in my house, and I mistake her for the boogeyman.”
Whether ESPN actually bans LaVar from further appearances remains to be seen, but we know he will not be going anywhere.
Ball and his family are the subjects of the reality series Ball in the Family on Facebook Watch and with LaMelo set to head overseas to play in Australia before entering the 2020 NBA Draft, you can guarantee Ball will find his way in front of the camera sooner rather than later.
