When you’ve grown up the stars of your own television show as the Ball brothers of Chino Hills have, there is little the basketball world has not seen. It has watched as they changed teams, countries and hairstyles. It has followed them through conversations with their father, LaVar, into their living rooms and cars and out of their comfort zone.
But out of all that saturation coverage comes something unique Monday: the oldest and youngest facing off in a game carrying actual stakes.
Just two seasons ago, a November game between Chicago and Charlotte barely would have registered, just as Lonzo and LaMelo’s first two matchups as NBA opponents last season were notable solely because of their family storyline and not the standings.