LaVar Ball admitted to Magic his act is all 'marketing'

While the fact comes as little surprise, the apparent admission is a candid bit of honesty from LaVar Ball.

Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson says that Ball admitted to him that his media antics are all designed to bring his sons - led by NBA No. 2 draft pick Lonzo - and his company, Big Baller Brand, publicity.

"(LaVar) just said it's marketing," Johnson told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "That's what he had to do to market not only his son but the brand. Before I met him I had already thought that. I already knew what he was doing."

While most observers could have deduced that from afar, even Johnson and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka knew they at least had to investigate. According to Shelburne, they visited the family's suburban Los Angeles home a week before the draft to see father and son in their natural environment. They came away impressed.

"He said, 'Earvin, look, I'm not following my son,'" Johnson said. "'I'm not going to be hanging out in L.A. ... as far as training my boy, this is as far as I can take him. I'll leave it up to you to take him further.'"

Ball's prominence in the media over the past year has edged into cringeworthy territory at times, such as when he critiqued the son of LeBron James or made an insensitive remark about Kyrie Irving's upbringing. Yet Johnson credits the senior Ball for the power of positive thinking - he always wanted Lonzo to play for the Lakers, and now that's happening.

"It's just amazing that it has all happened, the way it happened," Johnson said. "For (LaVar) to talk it into fruition."

LaVar Ball also isn't done on the public stage yet. He has two other sons, including youngest LaMelo, who is a top-five recruit in the class of 2019.