'I'm hard to kill' – LaMelo Ball's father LaVar Ball had a bigger purpose for fighting his illness that led to an amputated foot
LaVar Ball. Image via: Kirby Lee via AP
LaVar Ball, the ever-bold founder of Big Baller Brand and father to NBA stars LaMelo and Lonzo Ball, has revealed the harrowing details behind his recent foot amputation. Now, the outspoken patriarch is using his voice to inspire others to take their health seriously before it's too late.
While he was explaining his experience, LaVar shared his true motivation for continuing to fight his illness.
Here's what motivated LaVar Ball to keep on fighting his illness
LaVar Ball. Image via: Getty Images
After his recovery, LaVar Ball has appeared in several TikTok clips shared by creator Primby, where fans noticed something was off. The speculation was confirmed when SLAM magazine published an exclusive interview in which Ball laid everything on the table, including the terrifying ordeal that led to the loss of his right foot.
'What I want people to understand is that anytime you're dealing with an illness or something serious like that, one thing you better have is family to get you through that stuff,' Ball said. The usually animated father admitted there were moments where he felt close to giving up.
'I'm the Big Baller. I'm hard to kill. 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.'
Watching his sons, LaMelo and Lonzo, in the NBA and LiAngelo rising as a hip-hop artist, gave him the strength to keep going. 'That made me feel better. So, then I was like, Let me go ahead and just do these other surgeries and blood transfusions.'
Further, LaVar wants people to treat health issues with urgency. '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...
And sometimes it's a little more serious than what you think.'
Reflecting on how he nearly didn't make it, Ball shared his terrifying reality, 'The doctors said, Big Baller, you were very close to having to shut it down. But they were quick enough to give me the blood transfusions and keep that poison from going throughout my body.'
'I still eat my sugar, but I pay attention to it... Because I'm going to tell you this, a little amputation and a little of this, it could all have been prevented.'
Even after the amputation, Ball remains focused on his mission. 'OK, my foot is gone, but my brain is still here. So, I might not be able to move as fast… but what's the next step? Do I keep talking about the brand? Still keep talking about shoes?'
He added, 'I got a lot of limbs to come off. I'm hard to kill. I got some bigger stuff that the Big Baller still gotta do.'
In the end, it was his family and his relentless belief in his own purpose that carried him through. 'As long as I can smile and see my boys, I'm good... I still got folks around me that work hard and understand my drive to build a brand, to make shoes and to make other folks have the confidence in what they're doing.'
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In spirit, LaVar has not changed one bit, continuing his bold approach to life and his story, for many, could be the right inspiration as he fought the battle the hardest way possible.
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