Facebook, LaVar Ball and sons partner on reality series: report

LaVar Ball’s time in the sports media spotlight is entering its next phase. The father of Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball will star alongside his family in a new digital reality series on Facebook, according to a report this week by Deadline.com.

Dubbed a “docu-series”  in Deadline’s report, the as-yet-unnamed show will center on LaVar and his three sons – Lonzo, who was recently selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, LiAngelo, who is committed to join the UCLA Bruins basketball team this fall, and LaMelo, a standout player at Chino Hills High School in California. The number and runtime of the show’s episodes have yet to be announced.

Facebook representatives did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

LaVar Ball has generated both praise and criticism in recent months for his aggressive marketing tactics ahead of Lonzo’s entrance into the NBA. The 48-year-old family patriarch turned heads by starting his own apparel company for his sons, “Big Baller Brand,” featuring sneakers that cost $495 per pair. A regular guest on ESPN and FOX Sports 1, LaVar Ball recently made a high-profile appearance on WWE Raw.

If confirmed, the Ball family web series would mark the latest instance of Facebook’s push into original and live video content.

The social network inked a deal last month to stream several matches from the European soccer “Champions League” this fall. Facebook also has streaming agreements with Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.