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Stan Van Gundy is wrong about ESPN and Lavar Ball

By Sham Mohile

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts from the bench during the second half while playing the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena on December 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts from the bench during the second half while playing the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena on December 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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On Monday, Detroit Pistons Head Coach Stan Van Gundy weighed in on the situation between Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton and outspoken father, Lavar Ball.

Last weekend, the Lavar Ball circus made it’s way back to Los Angeles.

The outspoken father of 2nd overall pick and now Lakers guard, Lonzo Ball, decided to provide his opinion on head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton in an article published by ESPN.com.

"“You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more,” Ball said. “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him.”"

Shortly after the story broke, Stan Van Gundy reached out to Rick Carlisle, who is President of the NBA Coaches Association, as well as Commissioner Adam Silver stating that he would no longer cooperate with the extra access given to networks like ESPN in protest of ESPN running the story (Pistons play the Washington Wizards on January 19th on ESPN).

When asked about the email sent to Carlisle and Silver, Stan Van Gundy didn’t hold back.

"“I’m not meeting with their announcing crew before the game, I’m not doing the in-game interview,” Van Gundy said. “I’m not going to participate in the thing.”He went on, “I’m not denying them access. I’m not kicking them out of press conferences. They want extra stuff from us and they’re going to treat an NBA coach with that little respect? Then I’m going to choose not to give them extra access”"

It is no secret that Van Gundy has been outspoken about social issues. He’s been outspoken about President Donald Trump, racial injustices, and many more topics so it’s no surprise that he was so candid about his opinion on ESPN and Lavar Ball.

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However, Van Gundy is dead wrong about the situation.

Firstly, it’s a contractual obligation to cooperate with the wishes of networks like ESPN who have partnerships with the National Basketball Association, regardless of the topics that they cover.

Protesting a partner of Van Gundy’s employer is finacially a risky line to walk, and it seems like Van Gundy has received very little (if any) support on the venture.

Secondly, protesting a news outlet like ESPN for the content that they cover is toeing the line of censorship.

I understand that many fans are tired of the Lavar Ball circus, and so am I, but there are just as many fans who eat up any content covering the outspoken father or any of his three sons.

On Facebook, the game between Zalgiris and Vytautas of the Lithuanian basketball league was broadcast because LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball made their debut for Vytautas.

Over 100,000 people tuned in to the Big Baller Brand Challenge in Lithuania on a Tuesday afternoon on the East Coast.

100,000

People love the Balls and as long as they continue to follow them in such numbers, there’s no reason for outlets like ESPN to NOT cover them.

Van Gundy threatening to limit access to his 6th seeded team is not only a bit of an empty threat, as Amin Elhassan of ESPN pointed out, it also sets the precedent for different types of censorship to occur in sports media.

Van Gundy has the ability say whatever he pleases in press conferences as he also has the freedom of speech, which he’s utilized on multiple occasions this season, but the issue lies in the actions he’s threatening ESPN with.

By allowing Stan Van Gundy to limit access, it opens the doors for other coaches and athletes to limit their own access merely because they don’t like what a certain outlet is covering or how they cover it.

Our country was built upon the idea of free speech and freedom of press, even if that freedom is used to cover Lavar Ball.

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