LaVar Ball wants $1B marketing deal for sons, says he's not a distraction

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LaVar Ball is offering the marketing services of sons Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo to Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour, but there's an expensive catch.

"A billion dollars, it has to be there," the outspoken father told USA TODAY Sports' Josh Peter. "That's our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don't even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 mil over 10 years."

The billion-dollar offer - or request - or demand - is the latest in a string of controversial statements made by LaVar this season. He's proclaimed numerous times that Lonzo, the oldest of his three children, is already better than two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry.

Many, including Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, have accused him of stealing the spotlight from UCLA's star freshman, but it's a notion he immediately dismisses.

"They try to twist him up," LaVar said. "'Ah, man, your dad's distracting you. What's he doing?' His dad ain't out here on the court with no hula hoops going, 'Hey, make a shot through here.' That's distraction.

"I told him, 'Son, hurting you is not talking about you. Hurting you is cracking you upside the head.'"

The two younger Ball brothers are both still in high school, but are committed to play for the Bruins when their times come. By the sounds of it, a familiar voice will be in the Pauley Pavilion to root them on.

"You talking about a dad, me, that talks too much? I know some of these dads are not even there," LaVar said. "Alcoholics, drunks, waiting for their son to make it. 'Hurry up, son, we in poverty right now, hurry up.'"