LaMelo Ball’s new driver became the punchline on the first episode of The LaVar Ball Show, and LaVar wasted no time turning it into a family joke.
The show debuted Sunday with LaVar’s sons Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo all sitting in as guests, and the conversation eventually drifted to cars. That’s when the laughs started.
Lonzo Ball: “Watch out.”
LaMelo Ball: “A Sprinter.”
LaVar: “He said, ‘Watch out,’ [laughs]!”
LaMelo: “I got a driver.”
LaVar: “Oh, you got a driver? [laughs] They said you was too busy running into folks, man.”
LaMelo Ball says he has a driver now.
LaVar: “They said you was too busy running into folks, man.” 🤣😅
(h/t @Meloleague)
pic.twitter.com/ro1yf4OtUt
- Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 6, 2026
The joke landed because LaMelo has spent six seasons with the Charlotte Hornets building a reputation as a rough driver. The most notable incident came in February 2026, when he crashed his custom Hummer into a sedan at Trade and Tryon streets in uptown Charlotte.
After that wreck, Charlotte citizens blasted LaMelo for his reckless driving and shared their own stories about seeing him on the road. No one was seriously hurt in the crash, but the episode only added to the sense that trouble was always waiting around the corner.
LaMelo was reportedly seen driving more carefully after that accident, though maybe the driver is the reason. Either way, it may be the best investment the 24-year-old has ever made.
The timing of the joke also comes after a major change in LaMelo’s career. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.
That move came as something of a surprise because Charlotte had just put together a strong turnaround. The Hornets were 14-26 in January and finished 44-38, although the season ended badly when the Orlando Magic beat them 121-90 in the play-in tournament.
LaMelo’s individual numbers in 2025-26 were solid, too: 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. It wasn’t his best statistical year, but he still drew plenty of praise for helping lead that turnaround.
Charlotte may have viewed the trade as a sell-high moment, but the return wasn’t exactly overwhelming. Whether it ends up looking like a smart move or a mistake will take time to sort out.
For Minnesota, though, the appeal is obvious. Anthony Edwards now has a dynamic backcourt partner, and the pairing should be a lot of fun to watch.
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The bigger question now is how that growth fits into a reshaped rotation. McDaniels had briefly looked like a possible second scoring option after Julius Randle was traded, but the addition of LaMelo Ball changes the picture again and gives Minnesota a different kind of lead guard to work with. James White and Tim Connelly have both sounded encouraged about where McDaniels is headed, and the Timberwolves seem to believe the real test is no longer whether he can handle more, but how much more they can ask of him. [Read more 🡒]
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The gamble is obvious from a roster-construction standpoint: Ball brings offense and a different kind of playmaking, but the fit next to Anthony Edwards has to work on both ends for Minnesotas ceiling to stay where it wants it. For a team that has leaned on its defensive identity, the concern is whether adding Ball helps push the Wolves forward or asks them to give up too much of what made them dangerous in the first place. [Read more 🡒]