LaVar Ball has done an amazing job raising his family, as his two sons are in the NBA. Lonzo Ball is with the Chicago Bulls, while the younger LaMelo is with the Charlotte Hornets.
Lonzo and LaMelo Ball entered the league with a lot of hype because they were drafted high by the Los Angeles Lakers (2017) and the Charlotte Hornets (2020), respectively. However, both have yet to realize their full potential, mainly due to injuries.
And that is why in a recent interview with Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, an infuriated LaVar Ball blamed the injuries to both of his sons on their training programs and the sneakers they wear.
“The reason they hurt is because they got away from me,” said LaVar Ball. “And they start doing these roody-poo workouts. Because if you keep running them hills, you’re going to keep that power and that strength. But you start dealing with these rubber bands and doing this lightweight stuff, of course, you’re going to start breaking down.”
“You’ve got to condition your legs. So that’s why I always have my boys in them hills and running hard in them hills. A lot of things have to do with them raggedy shoes that Melo be wearing. Them shoes are not made the right way for him. That’s why he keeps tweaking his ankle every single time,” he added.
Does LaVar Ball have a point?
Lonzo Ball has not played a single game for the Chicago Bulls since January 2022 due to a knee injury, which has undergone three surgeries. According to NBC Sports Chicago’s KC Johnson last month, there’s a “growing buzz” that the 26-year-old point guard will “at least try to attempt to play next season.”
On the other hand, LaMelo Ball has dealt with ankle injuries a la Steph Curry since his rookie year. The Charlotte Hornets floor general has played only 58 regular-season games in the past two seasons and was recently ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
Before he was shut down, the younger Ball brother averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range.
With Lonzo and LaMelo undergoing rehab, LaVar Ball is optimistic that his two boys will be ready to play for the 2024-25 season.
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