LaVar Ball opens up about condition that led to amputation: 'Don't feel sorry for me'
LaVar Ball opens up about condition that led to amputation: 'Don't feel sorry for me'
LaVar Ball, the CEO of Big Baller Brand and father of Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball, is opening up about the serious medical condition that led to his right foot being amputated.
Ball revealed to Slam magazine that he was hospitalized for more than a month with life-threatening complications of diabetes, which ultimately led to the amputation of his root and several blood transfusions. Ball said his hospital stay coincided with LiAngelo Ball's song "Tweaker" going viral in January: "Funny how life works sometimes."
"I had an infection on my foot that started spreading through my blood due to not paying attention to my diabetes," Ball, 57, said in his first interview since the operation. "I ended up having to get my leg amputated. First, they cut off a couple of toes. Then they cut off my foot. Then they said, 'We gotta go almost knee high for another surgery.'Three surgeries. And then there were also the blood transfusions. Not one, not two, not three, four different times."
LAVAR BALL makes first public comments since having foot amputated
TMZ first reported the news by circulating an image of Ball using a wheelchair with a bandage over his right leg. Ball later confirmed the procedure in a TikTok video posted on @primbyontwitch's account. "Everyone heard what happened. And y'all can take my foot, but you know what you can't take? That Primby account," Ball said.
Despite appearing to be in good spirits in the social media video, Ball said his medical condition greatly impacted his mental health and had him questioning if "it was worth going through."
"I'm the Big Baller. I'm hard to kill," Ball said, highlighting his larger-than-life personality that made him a mainstay in the headlines. "But I must admit that my boys kept me rolling. Cause a couple of times, I was like,'I can't do no more blood transfusions. I can't do no more operations. I'm just ready to shut it down. It's enough for me.' But I'm here for a bigger purpose."
LaVar Ball: 'Don't feel sorry for me'
Ball credited his three sons – Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, 27, rapper LiAngelo Ball, 26, and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, 23 – for providing him the motivation to "keep going" and look for the silver lining.
"My foot is gone, but my brain is still here," Ball said. "I might not be able to move as fast as I did and do other things like that, but what's the next step? Do I keep talking about the brand? Still keep talking about shoes? Still go out to meet people? It makes me feel way better in looking at the outcome to go forward because I still want to be on this journey."
The Ball brothers and their outspoken dad burst onto the scene in 2016 when Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo led Chino Hills High School to a perfect 35-0 record, a state championship and No. 1 overall ranking in the nation. Ball parlayed the family's fame into the sports apparel company Big Baller Brand, which he co-founded in 2016.
"Seeing what my boys are doing out there, they're like,'Dad you're the toughest dude I know.' That made me keep going," Ball said. "As long as I can smile and see my boys, I'm good. But this whole experience made me realize, (you're) lucky that you have family to get you through some stuff. But don't feel sorry for me."
Ball is not the only member of the family who has dealt with medical adversity. Lonzo Ball, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, was sidelined nearly three years with a recurring left knee injury that required three surgeries. He returned to the court for the Bulls in October after last playing for the team on Jan. 14, 2022.
Tina Ball, mother of the Ball brothers, suffered a stroke in February 2017.
"I just deal with it. Whatever it is," Ball told ESPN at the time. "Things are gonna happen in life. Either you are gonna help do something about it or you just gonna let it happen and destroy you."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Joey Chestnut in talks for July 4 Nathan's hot dog contest return
Competitive eating's biggest star could be back in the sport's most notable event this summer on Coney Island. Major League Eating and Joey Chestnut have been in talks for the legendary eater to return to the famed Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, The Post confirmed on Tuesday. TMZ first reported that the two sides had been actively negotiating to have Chestnut return to the annual Coney Island event a year after he was barred from competing over a contract dispute related to a sponsorship deal with another hot dog brand. Joey Chestnut celebrates after eating 57 hot dogs in five minutes at the Pop Goes the Fort eating contest on Fort Bliss, Texas on July 4, 2024. Justin Hamel for the NY Post This time around, that has not been a factor in talks and both parties want to get a deal done. Major League Eating declined to comment to The Post and a request for comment from Chestnut was not immediately returned. The Post had broken the news last year that the beloved competitive eater, colloquially called Jaws, had been barred from the July 4th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Competition over his deal with Impossible Foods, which had launched a meatless hot dog at the time. The shocking controversy surrounding the hot dog eating contest was headline-making news across the city and even drew in Mayor Eric Adams, who called everyone to 'find a way to squash this beef' and allow the 16-time Nathan's hot dog eating champ to compete. Trophies for the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog contest. Paul Martinka Chestnut did not end up competing in the Nathan's contest and for the first time since 2015, someone other than Chestnut took home the Mustard Belt, with Chicago native Patrick Bertoletti claiming the crown last year after scarfing down 58 dogs. Signs that a potential return to the annual Fourth of July event popped up late last month when Chestnut expressed a desire to compete in this year's contest in an interview with The Blast, though he seemed to doubt a reunion would occur. 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he said in the interview. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors. … But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.' Chestnut is a household name for holding the record for most wins at the Nathan's competition and set the world record for most hot dogs eaten with 83, which he set last September, surpassing his previous mark of 76.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
HGTV Star, 43, Accused of Battery After Las Vegas Casino Fight
HGTV Star, 43, Accused of Battery After Las Vegas Casino Fight originally appeared on Parade. Tarek El Moussa was cited for battery during an altercation in Las Vegas on Thursday, June 5. A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told TMZ that the Flip or Flop star and another male were involved in an altercation last Thursday at The Palazzo at the Venetian Resort. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Witnesses also told TMZ that the HGTV star delivered a "brutal knee" to the man's head, knocking him out cold. One witness called the incident "bad," saying the other guy looked seriously hurt. Sources close to El Moussa claim he was stepping in to defend his elderly father and the confrontation was sparked by the man getting out of line with his dad. Las Vegas Police took a crime report and cited Tarek for battery, but did not arrest him. The alleged victim reportedly refused medical attention. The incident occurred during his family's vacation to Las Vegas. El Moussa's wife and The Flip Off co-star, Heather Rae El Moussa, shared some pictures from the trip on her Instagram, but made no mention of the altercation. 'Not our average Vegas trip… 🎰💎🖤,' she captioned the post. 'Watched Tarek do his thing on stage (so proud!) and made it extra special by bringing our parents along for the ride.' HGTV Star, 43, Accused of Battery After Las Vegas Casino Fight first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Masked Men Break Into Macklemore's Home, Bear-Spray Nanny While Kids Sleep
Masked Men Break Into Macklemore's Home, Bear-Spray Nanny While Kids Sleep originally appeared on Parade. Two masked men broke into rapper Macklemore's Seattle home over the weekend, deploying bear spray on a nanny and stealing thousands of dollars in valuables — all while his three children, whom he shares with wife Tricia Davis, were inside. According to a police report obtained by The Seattle Times, the home invasion occurred just before 1 a.m. Saturday at a Capitol Hill residence reportedly listed in public records as belonging to the Grammy-winning artist. Macklemore, whose legal name is Ben Haggerty, was not named in the redacted police report, but the outlet confirmed the address matched his voter registration. TMZ reported that the rapper was out of the country at the time, performing in Ireland. Seattle police were dispatched after the nanny reported that two intruders had entered the home, sprayed her with bear mace, and were still inside. According to the report, she had just put the children to bed when she saw two men enter through a patio door. One immediately sprayed her in the face with bear repellent. Despite the initial assault, the nanny told police that the man who sprayed her appeared 'fearful' and inexplicably began helping her rinse the bear spray from her eyes. The second suspect reportedly demanded valuables, shouting, "Where are the jewels, b--ch?" according to TMZ. The men then took jewelry, watches, and shoes before pushing her to the ground and taking her phone. In a separate incident report, the Seattle Police Department stated that 'thousands of dollars of items' were stolen from the home. The nanny told officers she bit one of the men before fleeing the house. She knocked on several neighbors' doors until one let her in to call 9-1-1. The suspects were later seen fleeing the scene, according to the police report. Thankfully, all three children were unharmed and were placed in the care of family members following the incident. Masked Men Break Into Macklemore's Home, Bear-Spray Nanny While Kids Sleep first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
