Charles Barkley and LaVar Ball talked a lot of smack on Wednesday, including Sir Charles issuing a one-on-one challenge to the father of UCLA standout Lonzo Ball, a likely top-three NBA draft pick.
Barkley was asked early Wednesday on ESPN's Mike & Mike if LaVar Ball was starting to become a distraction, and he took it from there.
"Once I found out he averaged two points a game [in college]. ... Listen, you need to slow your roll," Barkley said of Ball. "He says I didn't win a championship. I said to myself, 'I need to go back and Google this guy, because maybe I missed the Ball era, when he was dominating and winning championships everywhere else.' Listen, I'm too old and fat to play basketball, but I'll challenge Mr. Ball to a one-on-one. How about that?
"I don't even know how old he is -- he's got to be around my age -- but no guy who averaged two points a game can beat me at one-on-one. I'm positive of that."
Ball, who played in college at Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles, made headlines earlier this week, telling USA Today that he was looking for a packaged shoe deal involving his three sons that would be worth $1 billion.
Appearing later Wednesday on SportsCenter Coast to Coast, Ball laughed off Barkley's challenge.
"He wants to play one-and-one and all this, and he says I averaged two points, 'Who cares?'" Ball said. "... I know he don't want to play one-on-one because he's too big. He better stay behind that TNT thing ... and eat them doughnuts."
Ball said Barkley used to be his favorite player, but that title now belongs to his three sons. LiAngelo Ball will play for UCLA next season, and LaMelo Ball still has two more years of high school remaining.
"He's not my favorite player now. Not because I don't like him. It's because my boys are my favorite players now," Ball said. "He'll be all right, though. ... I'll send him some Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and he'll be my friend again."
