LaVar Ball, the charismatic father of NBA players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, as well as rapper LiAngelo Ball, has publicly opened up about the serious medical condition that led to the amputation of part of his right leg. In an essay published in SLAM on March 18, 2025, Ball revealed that complications from diabetes resulted in multiple surgeries and ultimately, the loss of his leg.
Ball, 57, began experiencing health issues in January, stemming from an infection on his foot. He described in detail how this infection escalated, stating, "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.’” This series of surgical interventions required three separate procedures and four blood transfusions to combat the complications.
The infection had started because he was not paying adequate attention to his diabetes, which Ball acknowledged led to his current dire situation. "I had an infection on my foot that started spreading through my blood due to not paying attention to my diabetes," he recalled. His ordeal forced him into hospitals for more than a month, and during that time, he battled with depression regarding his health and mortality.
In a moment of vulnerability, Ball admitted that there were times he considered giving up. "It made me think, ‘Man, just kill me and let me go about my business,’” he shared. However, the support of his family played a crucial role in keeping his spirits up. "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 expressed, highlighting the influence of his sons as motivation to persevere.
LaVar Ball is not just a sports figure; he is also the CEO of Big Baller Brand. At the same time he was confronting these health challenges, his son LiAngelo was enjoying major success as his rap career took off. LiAngelo's song "Tweaker" went viral, and he performed at the Rolling Loud music festival just before Ball's health revelations. LaMelo, on the Charlotte Hornets, and Lonzo Ball, who was making a comeback from knee issues, further motivated Ball during this tough time.
In the article, Ball emphasized the importance of health awareness, particularly within the Black community. "From my experience the last couple months, I want to get in people’s heads the importance of taking care of your health — especially Black people, because sometimes we’re not trying to go to the hospital, we will try to sleep it off or say, ‘Yeah, we’ll get to it later.’” He made a compelling case for others to not follow in his footsteps regarding negligence with health, stressing, “Get your checkups, do what you’re supposed to do.”
Ball's journey has led him to a new perspective on life. He expressed, "I look at it like this: I’ve talked to some of my people that are my age that’s been calling me that have cancer. And they say, ‘We thought we got it all, but we didn’t.’“ It’s a stark contrast to his situation, where he remains grateful for his life, stating, "Just for me to have my foot cut off, I got another one. I’m good to have my foot cut off as opposed to being dead.”
Despite the major life change, LaVar Ball remains optimistic about his future and the brand he helped build. He declared, "I’m the Big Baller. I’m hard to kill," as he highlighted his resolve to push through adversity.
In closing, Ball’s health scare serves as both a personal and a public lesson on the importance of health management and vigilance. The challenges he faced, while daunting, became a platform for him to inspire others to prioritize their well-being. As he looks forward to a future defined by resilience, he also remarked, "I still want to be on this journey,” marking his determination to keep going strong for his family and fans alike.
