Sad news: TMZ reports that LaVar Ball, father of NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo, had a health emergency recently.
The entertainment site is reporting he had to have an amputation of his right foot for an undisclosed reason. Basketball fans across the country were shocked when they heard the news.
Who Is LaVar Ball?
The report on Feb. 19 suggests that Ball is in good spirits after the surgery.
For those who may not know, Ball came onto the sports scene alongside his sons. Ball was determined to make them and himself stars, but it didn’t come without controversy. He gained national attention because he believed that his sons would be big NBA stars, and he did not apologize for this.
Ball was even quoted as saying that his son Lonzo was better than Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry before his son was drafted, which was considered controversial then.
But his actions help elevate both of his sons’ profiles in the sport of basketball.
He also created Big Baller Brand, a sports apparel company that launched signature shoes for all three of his sons. The brand faced criticism for product quality issues and business missteps. Yet, he never wavered in believing that his family could compete with major athletic brands like Nike and Adidas.
Lonzo now plays for the Chicago Bulls, and LaMelo plays with the Charlotte Hornets.
Ball Battling Health Issues
Ball has always seemingly been in good health, so to see him in a wheelchair with his foot amputated came as a shock. The details of Ball’s surgery have been limited but presumably the situation was dire.
LaVar Ball had his foot amputated after suffering a serious medical issue, per @TMZ
He’s in good spirits 🙏 pic.twitter.com/DjhSI8M9ii
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 19, 2025
Normally, if a limb is amputated, that means it is a serious issue going on within the body. According to Johns Hopkins, about 54% of all surgical amputations result from complications of vascular diseases and other conditions that affect blood flow, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Chronic vascular problems can lead to tissue death in the toes, feet, and legs. Another reason a person could have an amputation is because of a serious accident, which may force an emergency amputation.
But as of now, neither Ball nor his sons have indicated that anything like that happened to him. Still, the news of Ball’s recent health issues came as a shock to most NBA fans who remember the guy for taking on the establishment to help make both his sons household names.
