Zion Williamson And Lamelo Ball Made One NBA Player Criticize AAU Hoops

Zion Williamson and LaMelo Ball faced off in an AAU tournament on Thursday night. Those that stayed up late to watch a live stream of it online or squeezed in to witness it in person saw some huge jams from Williamson and LaVar Ball leave to take a bathroom break in the middle of coaching the game.

But not everyone was thrilled by what they saw when the Big Ballers and Williamson’s SC Supreme took the floor. In fact, Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley was very critical. He took to Twitter on Friday and lamented the show, tweeting out that both Ball and Williamson were playing “bad basketball.”

https://twitter.com/jareddudley619/status/890442839712190464

The 11-year NBA veteran then spent all day Thursday defending himself. One Twitter follower pointed out that Kobe Bryant once said something similar, and he took similar flak for it.

But Dudley isn’t just an old man lamenting the youths of today. He pointed out that there aren’t enough good coaches teaching team basketball to young players, and that results in sloppy play and little defense.

https://twitter.com/JaredDudley619/status/890446924029075461

When you consider that LaVar Ball can just call himself the best coach because he said so, Dudley does have a good point. Kids need good development as they grow and learn how to play defense. Many AAU games are just an opportunity to make a highlight video and turn some heads, but it’s an important time to improve your game if you work at it.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for fun. Many people know of Zion Williamson because of his remarkable dunking ability at such a young age. But Dudley thinks too many players are chasing that kind of notoriety and not learning the fundamentals that will get them to a big payday in the NBA.

Hopefully the Balls and Williamson are getting all that in when the cameras aren’t rolling. Because if they can’t play, someone else will be happy to take their spot on the floor.