LaVar Ball Blames NBA Training Staff And Puma’s 'Raggedy' Shoes For His Boys’ Injuries

Speaking up in a chat on CBS Sports, the infamous LaVar Ball finally spoke to the public after a long stint away from the spotlight. In his media return, Ball spoke on his son’s injuries and had a very specific party to blame for why it all went wrong. 

“The reason they hurt is because they got away from me,” said Ball, via Bill Reiter. “And they start doing these rooty-toot 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... A lot of things have to do with the raggedy shoes that Melo is wearing. Them shoes are not made the right way for him. That's why he keeps tweaking his ankle every single time.”

LaVar was heavily involved with the basketball development of his three sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo. He was a prominent figure in their careers as they transitioned to the NBA, but his voice has grown silent as they’ve each branched out to do their own thing.

In recent years, however, LaVar has had to watch from the sidelines as his sons have struggled to stay healthy—first with Lonzo and his mysterious knee injury and then with LaMelo over consistent ankle problems. Together, the two have played just 22 games this season.

Regarding the root cause behind these injury woes, there is still so much we do not know and a lot seems out of human control. Lonzo Ball’s knee problems were seemingly unavoidable and nobody could have predicted how difficult his recovery would become. As for Melo, he’s barely been on the court due to various setbacks with the ankle and it has yet to be confirmed if his signature shoe deal with Puma has anything to do with it.

According to LaVar, every decision his sons made since going out on their own has been questionable, and it could have been avoided had they followed his lead. But for a guy with such a knack for hyperbole, it’s hard for folks to take him as seriously as he takes himself. Somehow, even his sons feel that they’re better off calling the shots on their own than following the advice from their dad.

Can The Ball Brothers Get Healthy Next Season?

It wasn’t long ago that both Lonzo and LaMelo were viewed as among the most versatile guards in the entire NBA. Before his nagging knee issues, Lonzo was making a case as one of the top defensive point guards in basketball. From Los Angeles to New Orleans and then Chicago, Lonzo has played various roles over the years, but he’s always impressed defensively, and his skills on that end of the floor are what carry his game.

In Charlotte, LaMelo Ball has emerged as the face of the Hornets franchise, and his rise to stardom is impressive. When healthy, he's a dangerous scorer and playmaker with flashy handles and career averages of 20.0 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game on 43% shooting. But after tweaking his ankle once again, Melo was ruled out for the season, and it marks the second straight year he has been limited to 36 games or less.

The good news on both fronts is that progress is being made. After so long of not being able to run or jump, Lonzo recently progressed to more advanced workouts, indicating he may finally be on the mend and on track to return.

The same cannot be said of his brother, LaMelo, who is fading further and further into irrelevance as he struggles to stay healthy. While LaMelo may be the most talented baller in the family by far, he’s got the most to lose if things don’t tighten up soon — and LaVar will be watching every second.