LaVar Ball Reflects on Special Moment with LiAngelo Ahead of Foot Amputation
A looming foot amputation couldn’t deter Lavar Ball from cheering on his son, LiAngelo.
In a recently released video, the Big Baller Brand founder was seen FaceTiming with his son, also known as GELO, as the young artist’s single “Tweaker” gained popularity. (Aside from LiAngelo, 26, LaVar is also the father of Lonzo, 27, and LaMelo, 23, with his wife Tina Slatinsky.)
While the exact recording date of the video remains unknown, it captures LaVar, 57, celebrating his son’s achievements as LiAngelo shares about his burgeoning music career and mentions securing a performance slot at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles.
“That’s what I’m talking about, son,” LaVar encouraged. “Get me a prosthetic leg up there and be bouncing on one leg.”
“S*** is over and you still got hoop on the back end,” he noted, referring to LiAngelo’s basketball career. Recently, he played for Astros de Jalisco in Mexico.
In March, LaVar disclosed that he underwent a foot amputation following a severe infection that kept him hospitalized for over a month. He detailed in a personal essay for SLAM Magazine, published on March 18, that he made an effort to stay connected with LiAngelo leading up to the surgery.
“While in the hospital, as ‘Tweaker’ began to take off globally, I had a few FaceTime talks with Gelo, albeit I was a bit slurred due to the medications they were giving me,” he mentioned.
LaVar eventually underwent three operations and had four blood transfusions in an effort to manage the infection. The experience took a significant toll on his physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
“All those surgeries and blood transfusions made me wonder if it was worth it at times,” he reflected. “I even thought, ‘Man, just end it and let me get on with my life.’ It made me question if it was time for me to hang it up.”
Ultimately, it was his children who inspired him to keep pushing through.
“Seeing what my boys are achieving out there made me think, ‘Dad, you’re the toughest guy I know,’” he added. “That motivated me to keep going. Even though I’m a tough man and don’t require much, having that support from my boys was invaluable. What drives me is when they are all together; it gives me strength.”
Months after his surgery, LaVar is back home and gradually returning to his routine. On March 16, he shared a video on Instagram of himself working out in his home gym, featuring LiAngelo’s track “Can You Please” featuring GloRilla.
