‘It’s all marketing’: Shaq weighs in on LaVar Ball’s over-the-top persona

Business Insider asked Shaquille O’Neal for his thoughts on LaVar Ball, father of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, before he was the recipient of critical tweets from President Trump.

Shaq stopped by Business Insider to talk about his collaboration with home security technology company Ring, to raise awareness about how homeowners can better protect their property this holiday season. Shaq recently kicked off a campaign with Ring’s CEO Jamie Siminoff around protecting holiday package deliveries – specifically as National Package Protection Day approaches on Nov. 29. Following is a transcript of the video.

Business Insider: What do you think of Lonzo Ball so far? It’s very early in the season but what do you make of him?

Shaquille O’Neal: He’s playing safe. I would like to see him be more aggressive. The second game, when he scored 29 points against Phoenix, I think that’s the Lonzo Ball that people are expecting and are looking to see.

When you play for a storied franchise such as the Lakers, when great names come before you, people expect a certain way.

The other guy’s playing that way as a rookie, [Kuzma] or whatever it is, but [Lonzo’s] a … definitely to have a great player is one that keeps others involved, so he’s definitely doing that but I would like to see him be more aggressive.

Business Insider: What do you think of his father and his sort of eccentric persona?

(CNN clip starts)

LaVar Ball: There’s a lot of other things that’s going on, man.

CNN: No question about it.

LaVar Ball: Let him do his political affairs, and let me handle my son, and let’s just stay in our lane.

(CNN clip ends)

Shaquille O’Neal: I think that’s all marketing. You got to respect the fact that he loves his family, he takes cares of his kids, but I think it’s all marketing.

I can look at a person, especially when they’re talking to the camera, if they always end something with a smile, it’s acting. NBA stands for “nothing but acting.”

But, man loves his family, loves his kids, I can’t take that away from him. Some of his tactics are not businesslike but, hey, to each his own.