History of LaVar Ball in Timeline

LaVar Ball is an American businessman and the CEO of Big Baller Brand, a sports apparel company. He's known for founding the now-defunct Junior Basketball Association (JBA) and, most notably, for being the father of professional basketball players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball. His other son, LiAngelo Ball, is a hip hop artist signed to Def Jam. LaVar Ball is known for his outspoken personality and promotional skills, heavily marketing his sons and their brand through various media appearances.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

October 23, 1967: LaVar Ball's Birth

On October 23, 1967, LaVar Christopher Ball was born. He would later become an American businessman, co-founder and CEO of Big Baller Brand, founder of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), and father of basketball players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, and hip hop artist LiAngelo Ball.

Others born on this day/year

1985: College Basketball at West Los Angeles College

In 1985, LaVar Ball began his college basketball career at West Los Angeles College in the Western State Conference.

1986: Record-Breaking Season

In the 1985-1986 season, LaVar Ball broke the West Los Angeles College record for rebounds with 316. In the season opener of 1986, he scored 33 points and grabbed 18 rebounds against Porterville College.

1987: Continued Success in College Basketball

In the 1986-1987 season, LaVar Ball averaged 22.2 points and 12.0 rebounds per game at West Los Angeles College.

1989: Transfer to Cal State Los Angeles

In 1989, LaVar Ball transferred to Cal State Los Angeles, competing in NCAA Division II alongside three of his brothers.

1990: All-CCAA First Team Selection

In the 1989-1990 season, LaVar Ball averaged 15.8 points and 8.9 rebounds for Cal State Los Angeles and was named to the All-CCAA first team.

May 1, 1994: Signing with the New York Jets

On May 1, 1994, LaVar Ball signed with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) as a defensive end.

March 7, 1995: Return to Jets and Assignment to London Monarchs

On March 7, 1995, LaVar Ball returned to the New York Jets as a tight end and was promptly assigned to the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football (WLAF).

November 1995: End of Football Career

In November 1995, LaVar Ball's football career ended due to injury while he was part of the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. He then retired to become a personal trainer in California.

1995: Brief Professional Football Career

In 1995, LaVar Ball was a practice squad member of the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, though he never played in a regular season game. He also played for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football, recording 28 kickoff return yards.

1997: Marriage to Tina Slatinsky

In 1997, LaVar Ball married Tina Slatinsky, whom he met at Cal State Los Angeles.

July 2015: National Headlines with Sons

In July 2015, LaVar Ball and his sons received national sports attention after Gary Parrish of CBS Sports wrote a feature story about the Ball family.

2015: Stephen Curry's NBA MVP Award

In 2015, Stephen Curry was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

March 2016: Confident Personality Displayed

In March 2016, LaVar Ball first began displaying his confident personality to the public in an interview with MaxPreps, describing his son Lonzo as "Magic (Johnson) with a jumper."

August 2016: SLAM Magazine Feature

In August 2016, the Ball family's popularity grew after SLAM magazine featured them in an article.

November 2016: UCLA Championship Prediction

In November 2016, LaVar Ball predicted that UCLA would win the NCAA championship.

November 26, 2016: Guarantee of UCLA Winning NCAA Tournament

On November 26, 2016, LaVar Ball guaranteed in a TV interview that UCLA, led by his son Lonzo, would win the 2017 NCAA Division I Tournament.

2016: Kobe Bryant's Career Ending Injury

In 2016, Kobe Bryant's career ended due to an injury

2016: Big Baller Brand Co-founded

In 2016, LaVar Ball co-founded Big Baller Brand, a sports apparel company, with Alan Foster. Despite being the creator, LaVar held a minor share, with his son Lonzo having the majority.

2016: Stephen Curry's NBA MVP Award

In 2016, Stephen Curry was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

March 13, 2017: Statement about Defeating Michael Jordan One-on-One

On March 13, 2017, LaVar Ball claimed in an interview that he could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one in his prime, leading to widespread mockery and increased media attention. He appeared on ESPN's First Take to argue his comments.

March 2017: Brand Promotion and NCAA Controversy

In March 2017, LaVar Ball promoted Big Baller Brand on national TV, comparing it to Nike and Adidas. Lonzo's connection to the brand while playing college basketball at UCLA raised concerns about NCAA rule violations. Also in March 2017, Time wrote an article about the Ball's campaign against the NCAA rules.

March 2017: Statements about Lonzo vs. Stephen Curry

In early March 2017, LaVar Ball stated that he viewed Lonzo as a better player than Stephen Curry, who was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2016. The comments were criticized by many, including Don MacLean.

March 25, 2017: Controversial Comments After UCLA's Loss

On March 25, 2017, after UCLA's loss to Kentucky in the Sweet 16, LaVar Ball made controversial comments about his son's white teammates, implying their lack of foot speed hindered the team's championship chances. The remarks were widely criticized as racist.

May 4, 2017: Big Baller Brand Announces ZO2 Shoes

On May 4, 2017, Big Baller Brand announced its first shoes, the ZO2, priced at $495 with shipping expected by November 24. This announcement spurred criticism about the pricing from figures like Shaquille O'Neal and Dick Vitale, but also garnered support from some NFL players. LaVar Ball defended the price on Twitter with the statement, "If you can't afford the ZO2'S, you're NOT a BIG BALLER!"

May 17, 2017: Sexist Remarks on The Herd

On May 17, 2017, LaVar Ball appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, where his remarks towards female host Kristine Leahy were seen as sexist. Ball argued with Leahy, asserting that his brand is not for women and telling her to "Stay in your lane."

July 2017: Facebook Announces Reality Show

In early July 2017, it was reported that Facebook would release a reality television show featuring the Ball family.

July 28, 2017: Criticism for Sexism at Adidas Summer Championships

On July 28, 2017, at the Adidas Summer Championships in Las Vegas, LaVar Ball faced criticism for sexism as the coach of the Big Baller Brand AAU team after demanding the replacement of a female referee who gave him a technical foul. Following the incident, he made comments about the referee needing to 'stay in her lane' and criticized her fitness.

September 1, 2017: Melo Ball 1 (MB1) Signature Shoe Announcement

On September 1, 2017, Big Baller Brand announced the Melo Ball 1 (MB1) signature shoe for LaMelo Ball, priced at $395 and available for pre-order. This sparked controversy regarding LaMelo's NCAA eligibility, but LaVar Ball expressed disregard for NCAA rules.

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October 3, 2017: USA Today Article Calls Ball 'Worst Sports Parent Ever'

On October 3, 2017, Nancy Armour of USA Today published an article labeling LaVar Ball as the 'worst sports parent ever' after Ball removed his son LaMelo from Chino Hills High School to train him personally.

November 7, 2017: LiAngelo Ball's Arrest in China

On November 7, 2017, LaVar Ball's son LiAngelo and his UCLA teammates were arrested in Hangzhou, China for shoplifting sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store. The charges were dropped on November 7, 2017.

November 2017: Criticism of Luke Walton's Coaching

In November 2017, LaVar Ball criticized Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton for his approach to coaching his son, Lonzo, stating that the coaching was making him appear soft. Later that month, he again criticized Walton after an overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors.

December 4, 2017: Creation of Gelo 3 Shoes

On December 4, 2017, LaVar Ball created his own brand of shoes for his son LiAngelo called the Gelo 3, priced at around $395. The shoes were later rebranded as the G3 Lux, after LiAngelo was suspended and later removed from UCLA.

December 11, 2017: LiAngelo and LaMelo sign with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas

On December 11, 2017, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball signed with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas of the Lithuanian Basketball League.

December 12, 2017: Lakers' Front Office Meeting with LaVar Ball

On December 12, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers' front office met with LaVar Ball, requesting him to tone down his criticisms of head coach Luke Walton.

December 20, 2017: Announcement of Junior Basketball Association (JBA)

On December 20, 2017, LaVar Ball announced the creation of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA) under complete funding of Big Baller Brand. The league was designed as an alternative to college basketball with 8 teams playing in major NBA venues, offering salaries to players.

2017: Polarizing Figure in Sports

In 2017, Forbes labeled LaVar Ball "one of the most polarizing figures in sports today" due to his controversial comments and decisions, garnering both criticism and praise from media outlets.

2017: National Sports Headlines

In 2017, LaVar Ball garnered national sports headlines with bold statements, including claiming his son Lonzo was better than Stephen Curry and that he could defeat Michael Jordan in basketball. These comments brought both praise and criticism, especially regarding his company, Big Baller Brand. He also appeared on national TV, criticized his sons' teams, and had an exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump after his son LiAngelo's shoplifting incident in China.

2017: Prediction of Sons' NBA Draft Prospects

In 2017, LaVar Ball predicted that all three of his sons would be one-and-done prospects for the NBA draft by playing only one year of college basketball.

2017: LiAngelo briefly attends UCLA

In 2017, LiAngelo Ball briefly attended UCLA before joining LaMelo in Lithuania.

January 13, 2018: Jeanie Buss's Tweet Supporting Luke Walton

On January 13, 2018, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss posted a Tweet showing her support for head coach Luke Walton amidst LaVar Ball's criticisms.

January 2018: Business Endeavors with Vytautas

In January 2018, after LaMelo and LiAngelo joined Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas, LaVar Ball initiated business ventures involving the team and Big Baller Brand. Vytautas created the Big Baller Brand Challenge Games, a five-game exhibition series, and Big Baller Brand became the team's main sponsor after LaVar reportedly gave "a lot of money" to Vytautas to help pay off its debts.

January 2018: Continued Criticism of Luke Walton While in Lithuania

In January 2018, while in Lithuania, LaVar Ball stated that the Lakers were no longer playing for their coach, Luke Walton, resulting in them having the worst record in the Western Conference at the time.

January 23, 2018: LaVar coaches Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas

On January 23, 2018, LaVar Ball served as an assistant coach for the Big Baller Brand Challenge Games for Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas.

February 15, 2018: LaVar Wins Lip Sync Battle Against Lonzo

On February 15, 2018, LaVar Ball won against his son Lonzo in a Lip Sync Battle episode.

February 2018: Creation of Big Baller Brand Basketball Events

During January and February 2018, while LiAngelo and LaMelo played in Lithuania, LaVar Ball created the Big Baller Brand Challenge Games and Big Baller Brand International Tournament. The Challenge Games were exhibition games for Vytautas, and the International Tournament was a round robin tournament.

March 3, 2018: Tweet Questioning Trump's Involvement

On March 3, 2018, following an ESPN report that Trump had no involvement in LiAngelo's release, LaVar Ball wrote on Twitter, "Thank you for what again @realDonaldTrump?" He also suggested gratitude should be directed towards the Chinese president.

April 25, 2018: LiAngelo and LaMelo end stint with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas

On April 25, 2018, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball's time with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas of the Lithuanian Basketball League came to an end.

May 1, 2018: LaVar Ball Considers Bringing LaMelo to JBA

On May 1, 2018, LaVar Ball announced that he would look into bringing his youngest son, LaMelo, into the Junior Basketball Association (JBA) to help upstart it and regain some lost reputation.

June 13, 2018: Ending Quibbles with Luke Walton

On June 13, 2018, LaVar Ball ended his public criticisms of Luke Walton, mentioning that Walton is a good coach who needed time to figure things out.

June 2018: Claim about Taking on Kobe Bryant One-on-One

In June 2018, LaVar Ball mentioned that he could take on Kobe Bryant one-on-one, mainly due to Bryant's injury that ended his career in 2016.

July 9, 2018: LiAngelo Ball Joins LaMelo in JBA

On July 9, 2018, LiAngelo Ball played with his younger brother LaMelo in the JBA, after being undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft and not participating properly in the 2018 NBA Summer League.

August 3, 2018: JBA All-Star Game and LiAngelo's MVP Award

On August 3, 2018, LaVar Ball coached the Western Conference's All-Star team in the inaugural JBA All-Star Game, which included LiAngelo and LaMelo. The West team won, and LiAngelo was named the All-Star Game MVP.

August 5, 2018: Comments on President Trump and Racism

On August 5, 2018, following President Trump's tweet about LeBron James and his interview with CNN's Don Lemon, LaVar Ball told TMZ reporters that Trump is a racist, which he claimed was public knowledge.

August 2018: Vytautas Claims Problems with the Ball Family

In August 2018, Vytautas issued a statement claiming that LaVar and his sons were the problem throughout early 2018, alleging that they didn't pay money to the Big Baller Brand's tournament winners, withdrew financial support, and took back shooting machines that were presented as gifts.

February 25, 2019: Trump Reaffirms Stance on LiAngelo Situation

On February 25, 2019, President Trump reaffirmed his stance on the LiAngelo situation during discussions about the U.S.A.'s relationship with China, stating that he conversed with Xi Jinping about the college students.

March 2019: Lonzo Ball Cuts Ties with Alan Foster

In March 2019, Lonzo Ball cut ties with Big Baller Brand's manager and co-founder Alan Foster, alleging that Foster stole $1.5 million from the company. Lonzo also switched from ZO2 shoes to Nike shoes. LaVar Ball expressed regret for trusting Foster and supported Lonzo's decisions. The family discussed potentially closing the business.

June 20, 2019: Controversial Appearance on ESPN's First Take

On June 20, 2019, LaVar Ball appeared on ESPN's First Take to discuss his son Lonzo's trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. During the show, Ball made a comment to host Molly Qerim that was interpreted as sexually suggestive, leading ESPN to state they had 'no plans moving forward' to have Ball appear on their programs again.

March 2020: YouTube Video of First Take Segment

As of March 2020, a YouTube video of LaVar Ball's segment on ESPN's First Take, where he argued with Stephen A. Smith about his comments on Michael Jordan, had over 6 million views.

December 3, 2020: Simulated Game Against Michael Jordan

On December 3, 2020, Bleacher Report posted a video of a simulated one-on-one basketball game between LaVar Ball and Michael Jordan in NBA 2K21, where Jordan defeated Ball 22–3.

2020: Rejection of Trump and Election Loss

In 2020, LaVar Ball stated he wouldn't vote for Trump in the Presidential elections and suggested Trump lost the election due to their feud.

2020: One-on-One Match Offer

In 2020, LaVar Ball stated on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay" podcast that he would play a one-on-one match against Michael Jordan on pay-per-view for $200 million.

2021: LiAngelo Plays in NBA Summer League

In 2021, LiAngelo Ball last played shooting guard/small forward for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Summer League.

February 19, 2025: LaVar Ball Undergoes Foot Amputation

On February 19, 2025, it was revealed that LaVar Ball had his right foot amputated due to a serious medical issue, later confirmed to be a foot infection triggered by diabetes. He was reported to be doing well following the procedure.