During a length appearance on Delfi TV in Lithuania, LaVar Ball once again made clear that he think the Los Angeles Lakers should be trying to win instead of excusing losses as the byproduct of youthful inexperience. But while the Big Baller Brand CEO spoke highly of Lonzo Ball’s role in the Purple and Gold’s turnaround, he pointed to another playmaking youngster as the team’s top talent: Julius Randle.

“Julius Randle, in the beginning, they was ready to trade him,” LaVar said. “I told them from the beginning, ‘He’s your best player on the team on the fact that he stronger and faster than everybody on the team.'”

The Big Baller called for leniency when unleashing the full depth and breadth of Randle’s bullish talents.

“You gotta let him loose,” LaVar went on. “Just because he make a few mistakes, don’t be like, ‘Hey, you gotta get out, you got an attitude. I’ma bring you off the bench.’ Now, he’s starting and doing wonders.”

Indeed, Randle has played wonderfully well with L.A.’s first unit. Since returning permanently to head coach Luke Walton’s starting five on Dec. 29, the fourth-year forward out of Kentucky has averaged 17.7 points on 57.1 percent shooting, bolstered (in small part) by his 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting (9-of-9 from the free-throw line) during Thursday’s 131-113 win over the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

While there are arguments to be made for Zo and Brandon Ingram as the top talents in Purple and Gold, LaVar is right to point out that nobody else on the team possesses anywhere near the unique physical prowess that Randle brings to the court. Lonzo, for his part, would probably agree.

“Just give him the ball and get out the way,” Ball said of Randle after the game in Miami. “The way Julius scores, he go through everybody. Just get out of his way and let him work.”

The team may need even more of that from the big man if Ingram has to sit out Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs with a hip injury.