LaVar Ball is a name quite familiar to fans in the NBA. He is the father of Lonzo Ball and LaMelo Ball, players who are competing in the most prestigious basketball tournament in the world.
However, LaVar Ball is famous not because of his talent or contributions to basketball, but from the controversy that has accompanied his shocking statements since Lonzo Ball entered the NBA in 2017. However, he gradually became aware of his actions, so he no longer appeared as noisy as before and allowed Lonzo and LaMelo to focus on developing their careers.
However, the name LaVar Ball once again stood out recently, when he blamed the sports shoe company Puma for causing the persistent injuries his children suffered while competing. in the NBA.
LaVar Ball blames Puma and the NBA for his sons’ injuries
As for Lonzo Ball, he has had to deal with a series of complex and persistent injuries related to the meniscus. This player has undergone 3 separate surgeries, including 1 cartilage transplant, over the past 2 years. The last time Lonzo Ball played was January 14, 2022.
Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball also has to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season due to an ankle injury. Notably, the youngest Ball brother has had 3 long-term injuries in just 4 seasons playing in the NBA.
Up to now, Lonzo Ball has missed a total of 56% of possible games in his entire career. LaMelo Ball is no better, because this player has also missed more than 45% of the maximum number of matches since joining the NBA in 2020.
Therefore, LaVar Ball has reason to be angry, looking at his sons’ careers being affected so much by injuries. In an interview with CBS Sports, the 56-year-old businessman said Puma’s poorly designed shoes and the NBA coaching team’s lesson plan were the main causes of this.
“People often say that I push children to practice hard which leads to injury. That’s completely wrong. They get injured because they have to do incorrect exercises every day. If the children still practice The way I guide them from a young age, they will keep that momentum going. But there are problems you cannot control and things start to deviate from the original plan.
Not only that, there are many problems related to the shoes (Puma brand) that LaMelo Ball is wearing. Those shoes are not designed to suit LaMelo, that’s why he keeps getting ankle-related injuries”, LaVar Ball criticized.
LaMelo Ball’s playing shoes
When not playing in the NBA, LaMelo Ball used shoes branded Big Baller Brand, the shoe company owned by LaVar Ball himself. However, the Charlotte Hornets defender signed a shoe endorsement contract, worth up to 100 million USD, with Puma in 2020.
Since that time, Puma has launched three lines of shoes designed specifically for LaMelo Ball called MB.01, MB.02 and MB.03 respectively. MB.03 shoes were just released in early April 2024.
