LaVar Ball has been a picture of resilience and positivity ever since he underwent surgery to amputate his right foot. “Did y’all forget I’m LaVar? If I wanted to, I’d grow it back,” joked the Ball family patriarch in his first video after the procedure.
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It has been two weeks since TMZ Sports broke the news of LaVar’s health condition. He underwent a major medical procedure in February to amputate his right foot. The news left the fans in shock, especially since there was no prior knowledge about his surgery or medical issue.
Messages have been pouring in from across the basketball world, wishing the father of LiAngelo, Lonzo and LaMelo Ball good health. Here is what we know so far about the senior Ball’s condition, and how he has been recuperating and managing through the testing times.
LaVar is yet to make his medical condition public
On February 19, TMZ reported that LaVar had his right foot amputated. Shortly thereafter, his youngest son LaMelo took to social media to share an update on his father’s condition and wish him well. He wrote “I love you pops” on an adorable picture of the two together.
Amputation is not a normal procedure and implies there was some serious condition that led to the Ball family deciding on it. However, the family has remained tightlipped on what warranted the surgery.
Some believe that repeated reps on the court could have deteriorated his foot, while others point to diabetes, which is a leading cause of amputations in the United States. Of course, until LaVar himself clears the air, these notions remain conjectural.
What we do know is that the outspoken patriarch of the Ball family hasn’t let the operation dwindle his spirits. Even when he was photographed in a wheelchair after the amputation, LaVar was seen smiling ear to ear. Over the past few weeks, he has displayed resilience and positivity.
LaVar remains jovial in post-op updates
The basketball community rallied behind the Ball family upon hearing of LaVar’s amputation. However, the 57-year-old made it clear that he is still his usual upbeat self. His joke that he would grow it back if he wanted to indicates that he trying his best to remain in a positive space.
LaVar even harked back to his old comments about beating Michael Jordan one-on-one. He comforted his fans that, even with one leg, he could easily give the six-time NBA champion 70 points and “an a** whooping”. Above all, LaVar had expressed pride in the achievements of his sons in recent weeks.
“Everyone heard what happened and y’all can take my foot, but you know what you can’t take? That Primby account,” LaVar joked before singing LiAngelo’s hit song ‘Tweaker’ on TikTok.
He also shared his rendition of Haddaway’s iconic tune ‘Baby Don’t Hurt Me’. LaVar clearly doesn’t mind being the butt of jokes as he put a self-deprecating spin on the song’s lyrics. “What is love? Baby, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, my foot,” LaVar sang in another viral video.
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It’s not clear whether the Ball family will reveal more details about the medical condition or the reason for the amputation. The good thing, though, is that the family remains in high spirits despite it all.
