Update: WWE has announced that LaVar and Lonzo Ball will indeed appear on Monday Night Raw, which begins at 8 p.m. ET live on USA Network. The family will be involved in a MizTV segment with The Miz at some point during the show.
Original story
Excluding active and recently retired athletes, there's no better fit for WWE in the world of sports these days than LaVar Ball, the braggadocios father of new Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball.
The 48-year-old Ball watched his son get selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft on Thursday, and his first shot at the Staples Center spotlight may come as soon as Monday if he winds up on WWE's signature program, Raw.
According to a report from Pro Wrestling Sheet, WWE and Ball are "in talks" about an appearance, and it is "looking good" that an agreement will be reached. The website correctly notes that all WWE plans are subject to change, and when dealing with Ball, it is not unusual for something to be altered at the last minute.
Celebrity appearances in general are often changed frequently through the creative process, though WWE has a history of announcing such special guests at least a week in advance of the show. In this case, with Lonzo Ball being drafted by the Lakers on Thursday, it makes sense that nothing is in place just yet.
Though LaVar Ball would be a heel in wrestling parlance and likely booed in most locations across the United States, he would almost certainly be cheered in his son's new home arena. Celebrity guest spots have ranged from limited in-ring action to simply being shown backstage or on camera from seats in the past, so there's no telling what direction they would go in this instance.
Perhaps the best way WWE could use Ball would be as a mentor or competitor to Titus O'Neil, who is currently pushing his "Titus Brand" on the program. This would allow Ball to give his Big Baller Brand additional exposure via multiple mentions.
Pro Wrestling Sheet also points to a recent conversation Ball had during the NBA Draft about WWE and specifically Raw on Monday. A Reddit user captured video of the comments from a live stream Ball broadcast throughout the event.
Man off camera: "You gotta do WWE, bro."
LaVar Ball: "Alright, we just gotta talk strategy. I ain't tryin' to get hurt."
The conversation continued from there with Ball remarking that he would not be interested in going to SmackDown (which is on Tuesday in San Diego) because he wants to experience the real deal and be on the big show.
