LaVar, Lonzo moving on with Big Baller Brand, but what about JBA?

The past couple weeks for Los Angeles Lakers point guard, Lonzo Ball have been tumultuous to say the least. With reports of $1.5 million dollars being unaccounted for by former Big Baller Brand director, Alan Foster, the brand was on the brink of folding just as quickly as it started.

However, fans' concerns were put at ease when the patriarch and CEO of Big Baller Brand, LaVar Ball, publicly stated the brand is moving forward and there are no qualms between he and his son Lonzo.

"I'm not gonna let one rooty pooh guy come in here and do something bad and then be like, 'Oh, the brand's not good,'" said LaVar speaking on Foster on 98.5 KLUC. "The brand is good. It's just somebody did something bad to it ... We had a snake up in the thing, but you gotta understand this—I'm a snake charmer. When you're a snake charmer, you're gonna get bit."

He was also able to fulfill his commitment to the many players, coaches, and parents who attended his first ever BBB All-American Game this past Sunday, which yours truly was present. Based on the layout and how well the game ran, things appear to be looking up for the triple B's in the short-term.

However, there's an elephant in the room that has been glossed over and ignored by everyone within the camp whose focus is solely on the brand, and little, if any on the many young men who sacrificed their college eligibility to do something bigger than themselves and join the JBA League last year.

LaVar, Tina, and Lonzo Ball sit court side to watch LiAngelo Ball's debut with the Los Angeles Ballers at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Photo by David Chisholm

The league, which branded itself as an alternate path to the NCAA, was started by LaVar in late 2017. There was speculation by analysts who were leery of whether the league would begin due to the outlandish statements LaVar had made to that point.

With that said, the JBA League kicked off tryouts last April and did not look back as it completed an 8-game season including an All-Star game, and playoffs. Not to mention the international tour, comprised of the JBA USA Team, played a total of 17 games in several countries in Europe.

Then it all came to a halt.

First, the announcement of youngest son, LaMelo Ball returning to high school, thus abruptly ending his JBA USA tour, sent shock waves across the country with him enrolling in Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

The JBA League then announced cancelling the remainder of the tour and that second son, LiAngelo, would concentrate on finding a G-League team.

From that point on, there was little to no communication on whether a second season would take place, and what eager and befuddled current JBA players would do from that point on.

Fast forward to now and the lack of acknowledgement from the league and more importantly, the Big Baller himself is alarming. After saying next to nothing for the better part of months, LaVar in recent weeks has been outspoken on Luke Walton, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Foster, and the next steps of his children -- yet the 60 plus "kids" he boasted about taking in and helping to better themselves -- he's been quiet as a mouse.

These players deserve more and they deserve better. Even the AAF let it known a suspension of their season leading to an inevitable folding of its first year.

The only semblance of a statement is the Instagram account that has been scrubbed bare of the hundreds of pictures and videos featuring players, coaches, and staff who assisted in growing the page to its 365K plus followers. Now, the page follows no one and has one post which reads, "Summer 2018. The game will be forever changed."

If LaVar has zero plans to continue the league, it is imperative he speak out now and provide closure to so many needing an answer.

Many have aspirations on continuing their basketball careers and even return to college as they believed the two-year agreement they signed would provide them enough exposure to pursue another opportunity post their JBA League stint.

For LaVar, and to a lesser extent, Lonzo, it's time to speak up. There are young men who helped build this league who are now needing answers and have received nothing.

Like Spike Lee said, do the right thing.