LaVar Ball opens up about condition that led to amputation: 'Don't feel sorry for me'

LaVar Ball in 2017.

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."

"I'm hard to kill."

Lavar Ball kept it real with us during the SLAM 255 cover shoot about his near-death experience. https://t.co/4hh1WMF3mZ pic.twitter.com/utJppNxS0q
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 18, 2025

LAVAR BALLmakes 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."

LaVar Ball, the father of newly drafted Los Angeles Lakers player Lonzo Ball, with sons LaMelo Ball and LiAngelo Ball in attendance at Toyota Sports Center on June 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA,

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."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LaVar Ball on right foot amputation: 'Don't feel sorry for me'

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