LaVar Ball Blames Shoe Manufacturers, NBA Trainers for His Sons’ Injuries: ‘The Reason They’re Hurt Is Because They Got Away From Me’

Mark J. Terrill/AP

LaVar Ball — the father of NBA stars LaMelo and Lonzo — believes his sons’ poor injury luck is a direct result of them no longer being under his guidance.

LaVar entered the public eye several years ago when his sons were still in school. While Lonzo, the oldest, was making a name for himself at UCLA, LaMelo established himself as one of the best high school basketball players in the country at Chino Hills High School in California. LiAngelo Ball, the middle child, was also a star player in high school.

As a result of the early success of his sons, LaVar began making bold claims about how great they would be at the professional level. Seemingly overnight — and thanks to the boastfully named Big Baller Brand — the family became the talk of the sports world.

Though both LaMelo and Lonzo have shown great potential in the NBA, injuries have gotten in the way of their young careers. Due to a lingering knee issue, Lonzo played just 35 games in the 2021-22 season and missed the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. LaMelo has played just 58 games in the last two seasons because of ankle issues.

Speaking to CBS Sports, LaVar placed the blame squarely on NBA trainers and Puma — the brand with which LaMelo has a signature shoe.

“They say, ‘Oh, LaVar, you worked the boys out too hard — that’s why they’re hurt,” LaVar said on the podcast Beyond The Arc. “No, the reason they’re hurt is because they got away from me. 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. That will make you run like a deer when you get on that court, so you won’t be getting hurt. 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.”

Though LaVar took issue with Puma’s shoes, LaMelo has explained in the past that Big Baller Brand’s basketball sneakers — which sold for $500 — were so unreliable he’d need a new pair every quarter during NBA games.