LaVar Ball has foot amputated as father to NBA stars...

LaVar Ball has had his right foot amputated after suffering from a serious medical issue, according to TMZ. The 57-year-old father of basketball stars Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball, is reportedly ‘in great spirits and doing well’ despite the operation.

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The nature of the condition has not been confirmed, with none the Ball sons speaking publicly on the situation as yet. LaVar has become well known as a businessman and personality in the States after heavily promoting his three sons and their NBA careers.

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He created the ‘Big Baller Brand’ with his sons wearing signature shoes created by the business. His sons have done well for themselves, with Lonzo the star performer, playing point guard for the Chicago Bulls after spells with the LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans.

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LaMelo has been with the Charlotte Hornets since 2020, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021, while LiAngelo is currently a free agent but has pursued a music career to viral success. LaVar has been known to make some pretty big claims about his sons and their skills, including that Lonzo is the best player on the planet.

Speaking to TIME in 2017 when his son was still a teenager, he said: ‘To me Zo is the best player in the world. I don’t know if he can beat them one on one, but I know he can beat them 5 on 5.’. He predicted that Lonzo would be drafted by the LA Lakers, which did happen, proving some credibility to his ambitious claims.

LaVar also had some hefty claims of his own ability, consistently saying he would have beaten Michael Jordan one on one. ‘Easy….too fast, too strong, there’s nothing he could do,’ he said. ‘He’s weighing 210 pounds, I weighing 270, and can jump, fast. I’m just going to bag him in, push him off his feet. He’s a little baby to me. And give him a jump hook because I was skilled with either hand to do a jump hook, that’s all. You can’t block jump hooks.’.

Despite this wild boast, LaVar only played basketball to collegiate level, but did have a short professional stint in American Football, playing for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football in 1995. The family starred in a reality TV show on Facebook Watch called Ball in the Family, which also features LaVar’s wife Tina.