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==Professional football career==
Following college, Ball was invited to a football tryout and eventually made a return to the sport.<ref name="slam">{{cite news|last1=Calle|first1=Franklyne|title=Ball Is Life|url=http://www.slamonline.com/blogs/on-the-come-up/ball-bros/#Pz3MZKmEsmelrWi2.97|website=[[Slam (magazine)|Slam Online]]|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> After finishing his college basketball career, he played a single year of college football at [[Long Beach City College]] as a [[tight end]].<ref name="garbage">{{cite web|last1=Weiner|first1=Natalie|title=LaVar Ball's Pro Football Career, According to His Teammates, Was 'Garbage'|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2700439-lavar-balls-pro-football-career-according-to-his-teammates-was-garbage|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=August 3, 2017|date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> On May 1, 1994, Ball signed with the [[New York Jets]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) as a [[defensive end]].
Ball returned to the Jets on March 7, 1995, as a [[tight end]] and was immediately sent to the [[London Monarchs]] of the [[NFL Europe|World League of American Football]] (WLAF) the same year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Transactions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/07/sports/transactions-342895.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 17, 2017|date=March 7, 1995}}</ref> In the [[1995 WLAF season|1995 season]] for the Monarchs, Ball had zero catches, but did record 28 yards in kick returns.<ref name="jss">{{cite web|title=LaVar Ball Statistics|url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=balllav001|website=JustSportsStats.com|access-date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> According to his teammate [[Kenny McEntyre]], Ball was "garbage".<ref name="garbage" />
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Many of Ball's eccentric claims have involved well-known basketball players. In early March 2017, he said that he viewed Lonzo as a better player than [[Stephen Curry]], the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] in [[2014–15 NBA season|2015]] and [[2015–16 NBA season|2016]].<ref name="boastslatimes">{{cite web|last1=Bolch|first1=Ben|title=LaVar Ball's boasts about sons, including UCLA star Lonzo, draw strong reactions|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-lavar-ball-20170219-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> UCLA all-time leading scorer [[Don MacLean (basketball)|Don MacLean]] called the comments "outrageous," and many bloggers ridiculed Ball for them.<ref name=boastslatimes/> Ball has also stated that he believes his eldest son is "the best player in the world," specifically comparing him with NBA MVPs [[LeBron James]] and [[Russell Westbrook]].<ref name="lebronwestbrook">{{cite web|last1=Boone|first1=Kyle|title=LaVar Ball finally said it: Lonzo, not LeBron, is the best player in the world|url=http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lavar-ball-finally-said-it-lonzo-not-lebron-is-the-best-player-in-the-world/|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=March 17, 2017|date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> Kyle Boone of CBS Sports responded: "There's no way in the world Lonzo would be taking down LeBron or Westbrook in any form of basketball right now."<ref name=lebronwestbrook/>
On March 13, 2017, Ball said in an interview with Josh Peter of ''[[USA Today]]'': "Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one," saying Jordan could only foul him if he did a jump hook, that Jordan could not stop him one-on-one, that Jordan was slower.<ref name="mjusatoday">{{cite web|last1=Peter|first1=Josh|title=LaVar Ball and his boys are here to change the world|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/tourney/2017/03/13/lavar-lonzo-ball-ucla-march-madness-nba-draft/99126082/|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> Ball was widely mocked for making the statement due to having averaged only 2.2 points per game while playing basketball at Washington State.<ref name=mjusatoday/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hanzus|first1=Dan|title=Le'Veon Bell takes apart LaVar Ball's bad Jordan boast|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/le-veon-bell-takes-apart-lavar-ball-s-bad-jordan-boast-0ap3000000793083|website=[[National Football League|NFL]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cato|first1=Tim|title=LaVar Ball, who averaged 2 points in college, still thinks he would've cooked Michael Jordan 1-on-1|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/3/14/14922612/lavar-ball-michael-jordan-1-on-1-lonzo-nba-ucla|website=[[SB Nation]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|date=March 16, 2017}}</ref> His comments comparing himself with Jordan resulted in a significant increase in media attention.<ref>{{cite
===Feud with President Donald Trump===
On November 7, 2017, days before [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]] opened the [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18 season]] in Shanghai, China, Ball's son [[LiAngelo Ball|LiAngelo]] and teammates [[Cody Riley]] and Jalen Hill were arrested for shoplifting from a high-end shopping center near their team hotel in [[Hangzhou]].<ref name="cbssportschina">{{cite web|last1=Boone|first1=Kyle|title=LiAngelo Ball, other players arrested have to stay in China for 'a week or two'|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/report-liangelo-ball-other-players-arrested-have-to-stay-in-china-for-a-week-or-two/|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=February 15, 2018|date=November 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="arrested">{{cite
On November 17, LaVar Ball responded to Trump: "Who? What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."<ref name=downplays/> Two days later, Trump labeled Ball "very ungrateful" and stated that he "should have left them in jail" in a series of tweets.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lauletta|first1=Tyler|title='I should have left them in jail!': Trump responds to LaVar Ball belittling his role in son's release from China|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-responds-lavar-ball-2017-11|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=February 15, 2018|date=November 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Boone|first1=Kyle|title=Trump calls LaVar Ball 'very ungrateful', says son's shoplifting not big deal to father|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/trump-calls-lavar-ball-very-ungrateful-says-sons-shoplifting-not-big-deal-to-father/|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=February 15, 2018|date=November 20, 2017}}</ref> On November 20, Ball featured in a 20-minute interview with [[Chris Cuomo]] on [[CNN]], where he continued refusing to thank Trump.<ref name="lavarcnn">{{cite web|last1=Gaines|first1=Cork|title=CNN interview with LaVar Ball goes off the rails as he tries to explain why he dismissed Trump's help|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-interview-lavar-ball-reaction-to-trump-2017-11|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=February 15, 2018|date=November 20, 2017}}</ref> In the following days, Trump reasserted his role in releasing the UCLA players, while likening Ball to a "poor man's version of [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]]" and calling him an "ungrateful fool."<ref>{{cite
In the aftermath of President Trump's [[Twitter|tweet]] talking about [[LeBron James]] and his interview with [[CNN]] journalist [[Don Lemon]] on August 5, 2018, Ball mentioned to reporters at [[TMZ]] that the president is a racist and that "everybody knows that. It's not a secret."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/08/11/lavar-ball-calls-donald-trump-a-racist/|title=LaVar Ball calls Donald Trump 'racist'|date=August 11, 2018}}</ref> He also encouraged his sons to be political in the event it's necessary for them to do so, live their lives to the fullest, be passionate at the sport of basketball, and love everyone that's nice to them. However, on February 25, 2019, when talking about the U.S.A.'s relationship with China, President Trump reaffirmed his stance on the situation with LiAngelo and the two other players, stating he conversed with Xi Jinping about the college students and that LaVar's consultant would have gone nowhere in their conversations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2019/02/25/president-donald-trump-rehashes-beef-with-lavar-ball-during-white-house-press-conference-china-shoplifting/|title = Donald Trump rehashes beef with LaVar Ball during White House press conference|date = February 25, 2019}}</ref> Ball later stated he wouldn't vote for Trump at all in the 2020 Presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2019/03/20/lavar-ball-donald-trump-2020-president-election/|title=LaVar Ball says he won't vote for Donald Trump in 2020 election|date=March 21, 2019}}</ref> After Trump lost the [[2020 United States presidential election]] LaVar suggested Trump lost the election because of their feud.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dedaj|first=Paulina|date=November 18, 2020|title=LaVar Ball says Trump lost reelection because of their 2017 feud: 'He would still be president'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lavar-ball-trump-lost-reelection-feud-still-be-president|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref>
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{{Main|Big Baller Brand}}
Ball is the co-founder<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2019/03/22/lonzo-ball-news-big-baller-brand-co-founder-alan-foster-money-allegations-lavar-ball/|title = Lonzo Ball reportedly fires business partner Alan Foster over $1.5 million in missing money|date = March 22, 2019}}</ref> and CEO of [[Big Baller Brand]], a sports apparel company that he launched alongside Alan Foster's help in 2016.<ref name="launch">{{cite web|title=Launching!|url=https://bigballerbrand.com/blogs/news/97429057-launching#|website=BigBallerBrand.com|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=April 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052246/https://bigballerbrand.com/blogs/news/97429057-launching|archive-date=September 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, it was later reported that despite creating the company, LaVar held a minor share of the business, with his son Lonzo being majority holder within it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2019/03/22/lonzo-ball-majority-big-baller-brand-alan-foster-lavar-ball/|title=Lonzo Ball revealed to own 51 percent of Big Baller Brand|newspaper=Lonzo Wire|date=March 22, 2019}}</ref> During his rise in March 2017, he often promoted his brand on national TV, comparing it with major shoe companies like [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[Adidas]].<ref name="bigleadbarkley">{{cite web|last1=Glasspiegel|first1=Ryan|title=LaVar Ball Claps Back at Barkley|url=http://thebiglead.com/2017/03/07/lavar-ball-claps-back-at-barkley/|website=[[The Big Lead]]|access-date=October 17, 2017|date=March 7, 2017}}</ref> Soon after, Lonzo's connection to the brand while he played college basketball at [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]] raised questions about whether it broke [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) rules.<ref name="latimesskirt">{{cite web|last1=Fenno|first1=Nathan|title=Does the Ball family's 'Big Baller Brand' skirt NCAA rules? Experts say yes, but LaVar Ball doesn't care.|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-ball-brothers-business-20170322-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 17, 2017|date=March 22, 2017}}</ref> In mid-March, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' wrote an article describing the Ball's campaign against the NCAA rules.<ref name="timencaa">{{cite
On May 4, 2017, Big Baller Brand announced its first shoes, the ZO2, which had a retail price of $495 and would be shipped later on, by as late as November 24.<ref name="ftwzo2">{{cite web|last1=Joseph|first1=Andrew|title=LaVar Ball claims that he's sold 'at least' 495 pairs of Lonzo's $495 shoes|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/lavar-ball-495-shoe-sales-big-baller-brand-bbb-lonzo-zo2-sold|website=For The Win|access-date=June 21, 2017|date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name="nytimeszo2">{{cite web|last1=Tracy|first1=Marc|title=At $495, Lonzo Ball's ZO2 Sneakers Have Tastemakers Saying No Thanks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/sports/basketball/lonzo-lavar-ball-shoes-zo2.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 21, 2017|date=May 5, 2017}}</ref> [[Shaquille O'Neal]] criticized Ball for overpricing the shoes, while [[Dick Vitale]] took aim at the price by citing Lonzo's performance against Kentucky at the NCAA Tournament.<ref name=wapozo2/><ref name="shaq">{{cite web|last1=Bushnell|first1=Henry|title=Shaq calls out LaVar Ball for price of Lonzo's signature shoe|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaq-calls-lavar-ball-price-lonzos-signature-shoe-232043570.html|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|access-date=June 21, 2017|date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> On Twitter, many [[National Football League|NFL]] players like [[Golden Tate]] were critical of the shoe price, while [[Arian Foster]] and others showed their support.<ref name="wapozo2">{{cite
On September 1, 2017, Big Baller Brand announced a signature shoe for LaVar's youngest son LaMelo Ball, the Melo Ball 1 (MB1), on its website for pre-order for $395.<ref name=lameloncaashoes/> The announcement once again stirred controversy regarding LaMelo's NCAA eligibility.<ref name="lameloncaashoes">{{cite web|last1=Goodman|first1=Jeff|title=LaVar Ball on son's NCAA eligibility: 'If he can't play, then he can't play'|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20520784/high-school-junior-lamelo-ball-now-signature-shoe-395|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=September 4, 2017|date=September 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Big Baller Brand Drops Shoe For LaMelo Ball, Raising Questions About Future NCAA Eligibility|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2017/09/01/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Big-Baller.aspx|website=Sports Business Daily|access-date=September 4, 2017|date=September 1, 2017}}</ref> NCAA spokesperson Emily James said, "Generally speaking, a college athlete or prospect paid for use of their athletics reputation or ability risks their future eligibility in that sport. This includes profiting from the sale of items bearing the young person's name. NCAA rules, however, do allow prospects to promote commercial products prior to enrollment, provided it is not for pay."<ref name=lameloncaashoes/> LaVar expressed a general disregard for the NCAA rules, saying that the shoe would be released whether or not his son would become ineligible.<ref name=lameloncaashoes/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Nathan|first1=Alec|title=LaVar Ball: 'NCAA Ain't Going to Tell Me S—t' About LaMelo's Signature Shoe|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731180-lavar-ball-ncaa-aint-going-to-tell-me-s-t-about-lamelos-signature-shoe|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=September 4, 2017|date=September 3, 2017}}</ref> After his son LiAngelo was suspended and later removed from UCLA, Ball would create his own brand of shoes for his son called the Gelo 3 on December 4, 2017.<ref name="gelo3">{{cite web|last1=Polacek|first1=Scott|title=LiAngelo Ball to Get Signature 'Gelo 3' Big Baller Brand Shoe After Leaving UCLA|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2747616-liangelo-ball-to-get-signature-gelo-3-big-baller-brand-shoe-after-leaving-ucla|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=February 12, 2018|date=December 4, 2017}}</ref> Similar to the MB1, the Gelo 3 is also set at around $395; the shoes would later be rebranded as the G3 Lux.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/05/01/big-baller-brand-liangelo-ball-g3-lux-signature-shoe/|title=Big Baller Brand teasing sale of LiAngelo Ball's G3 Lux signature shoe|date=May 1, 2018}}</ref> LaVar also announced he and his wife would have signature shoes later on as well, with LaVar's shoes considered to be LaVariccis and Tina's shoes titled as "The Comeback" for her battle on regaining her health after a stroke back in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/05/03/lavar-ball-reveals-name-of-tina-balls-future-big-baller-brand-shoe/|title=LaVar Ball reveals name of Tina Ball's future Big Baller Brand shoe|date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>
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==== Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas ====
[[File:LaVar Ball interview.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ball (left) being interviewed by [[ESPN]] in January 2018]]
After his sons LaMelo and LiAngelo began playing with the Lithuanian team [[BC Prienai|Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas]] in January 2018, Ball began multiple business endeavors involving the team and Big Baller Brand.<ref name="procontracts">{{cite web|last1=Amick|first1=Sam|title=LaMelo, LiAngelo Ball sign with Lithuanian pro team|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/12/11/lamelo-liangelo-ball-sign-lithuanian-pro-team/942657001/|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> Immediately following the Ball brothers' arrival in Lithuania, Vytautas withdrew from the [[Baltic Basketball League]] (BBL) and instead created a five-game exhibition series to showcase the Ball brothers, known as the [[Big Baller Brand Challenge Games]].<ref>{{cite
During his time spent with Vytautas, however, Ball would also disparage their head coach [[Virginijus Šeškus]], as he had attacked Lakers coach Luke Walton during the [[2017-18 NBA season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/03/20/lavar-ball-rips-liangelo-lamelos-coach-my-boys-got-worse/|title=LaVar Ball rips LiAngelo, LaMelo's coach: 'My boys got worse'|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Šeškus would ultimately tune out Ball near the end of Vytautas's season, noting his own experience as a player, tuning out the negative responses behind the bench.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/04/19/liangelo-lamelo-balls-coach-not-bothered-by-lavars-nonsense/|title=LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball's coach not bothered by LaVar's 'nonsense'|date=April 19, 2018}}</ref> On April 25, after a loss to [[BC Šiauliai|Šiauliai]] without either one of his sons playing, Ball announced that he was pulling his younger sons off the team and would return to the US for the [[2018 NBA draft]]. Vytautas's head coach Šeškus stated that the Ball family essentially "came for the show, not for basketball" (referring to their [[Facebook Live]] show [[Ball in the Family]]), and that it was a pity they did not understand the benefits of being on a professional team in Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/04/25/liangelo-ball-lamelo-ball-lavar-ball-virginijus-seskus-lithuania-prienu-vytautas-lkl/|title=Lithuanian coach: Ball family 'came here for show, not for basketball'|date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> LaVar would later comment that everything involved with his time out in Lithuania went exactly as planned for his two sons there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/05/02/lavar-ball-lithuania-liangelo-ball-lamelo-ball-lkl-big-baller-brand/|title=LaVar Ball: 'Everything...went exactly as planned' in Lithuania|date=May 2, 2018}}</ref> Ultimately, LaVar, his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo, and his brother LaValle expressed their thanks and gratitude to the fans of Vytautas before officially leaving.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/04/28/lavar-liangelo-lamelo-ball-lavalle-prienu-vytautas-lithuania/|title=LaVar, LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball thank Vytautas fans before leaving Lithuania|date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> Furthermore, despite finishing their season in last place, Vytautas would remain in the LKL, although they would lose their Vytautas team sponsorship name after the end of that season, as well as no longer have the Big Baller Brand as an official sponsor for the team. Later on, in August 2018, the team issued a statement stating that LaVar and his sons were the problem throughout early 2018, claiming they didn't pay money to the Big Baller Brand's tournament winners, as well as withdrawing financial support for the team and taking back shooting machines that were presented as gifts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/basketball/2018/08/23/lithuanian-coach-criticizes-lavar-ball-sons/1077511002/|title = LaVar Ball, sons tried to 'destroy' Lithuanian team, coach says| website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref>
===Junior Basketball Association===
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Many of Ball's decisions, primarily his comments in the media, have raised significant controversy around him and his sons. He has often been subject to criticism and praise from several media outlets for various reasons. [[Forbes]] has labeled him "one of the most polarizing figures in sports today."<ref name="forbespolarizing">{{cite web|last1=Mazique|first1=Brian|title=LaVar Ball: Marketing Genius, Out Of Control Dad, Or Both?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2017/03/14/lavar-ball-marketing-genius-out-of-control-dad-or-both/|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=August 3, 2017|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref>
He has been labeled "outrageous,"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ward-Henninger|first1=Colin|title=Ranking LaVar Ball's most outrageous quotes|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/photos/ranking-lavar-balls-most-outrageous-quotes/|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=October 17, 2017|date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> "wild and crazy,"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Douglas|first1=Stephen|title=Early LaVar Ball Video: Different Era, Same Wild and Crazy Guy|url=http://thebiglead.com/2017/08/30/early-lavar-ball-video-different-era-same-wild-and-crazy-guy/|website=[[The Big Lead]]|access-date=October 17, 2017|date=August 30, 2017}}</ref> and a "moron."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Philipps|first1=Ryan|title=LaVar Ball Isn't A Marketing Genius, He's A Moron|url=http://thebiglead.com/2017/05/05/lavar-ball-isnt-a-marketing-genius-hes-a-moron/|website=[[The Big Lead]]|access-date=October 17, 2017|date=May 5, 2017}}</ref> Multiple notable basketball figures
===Allegations of discriminatory comments===
On March 25, 2017, after Ball's November 2016 prediction that UCLA would win the NCAA championship, the team lost to [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]] in the Sweet 16 round of the tournament, with Lonzo pulling a hamstring.<ref name=whiteguys/><ref>{{cite
===Allegations of sexism===
{{too detailed|section|date=July 2024}}
On May 17, 2017, Ball appeared on ''[[The Herd with Colin Cowherd]]'', a show on [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]], where his remarks towards female host [[Kristine Leahy]] were seen as sexist.<ref name="bitheherd">{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Scott|title=LaVar Ball tells Fox Sports' Kristine Leahy 'stay in your lane' after question about how many shoes he has sold|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/lavar-ball-kristine-leahy-stay-in-your-shoe-sales-2017-5|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=August 4, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> He never faced in Leahy's direction for the whole interview, apparently trying to talk only with [[Colin Cowherd]] on the other side of the studio.<ref name="sbnationtheherd">{{cite web|last1=Whitfield|first1=Kristian|title=LaVar Ball disrespects FS1's Kristine Leahy: 'Stay in your lane'|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/5/17/15654608/lavar-ball-sexist-comments-kristine-leahy-fox-sports-lonzo-ball|website=[[SB Nation]]|access-date=August 4, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> Ball argued with Leahy about if [[Big Baller Brand]] should market to both men and women, asserting that his brand is not for women, and when she asked him how many shoes he had already sold, he said, "Stay in your lane."<ref name="bitheherd" /><ref name="nypostleahy">{{cite web|last1=Brazillier|first1=Zach|title=LaVar Ball attacks Fox Sports reporter in sexist rant|url=https://nypost.com/2017/05/17/lavar-ball-attacks-fox-sports-reporter-in-sexist-rant/|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=October 14, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> During the segment, Leahy expressed that she believed Ball was disrespecting women, and he responded by calling her a "hater" for her previous criticism of his parenting.<ref name="sitheherd">{{cite
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Later that day on ''The Herd'', Leahy issued a response about her argument with Ball, saying, "So he was upset at me for what I said there, and that's completely fine. But you can't come at me and disrespect me and not look me in the eye and threaten me. That's just not OK."<ref name="ftwtheherd">{{cite web|last1=Joseph|first1=Andrew|title=Kristine Leahy responds to LaVar Ball's threatening comments on FS1: 'That's just not OK'|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/kristine-leahy-responds-lavar-ball-threatening-comments-fox-fs1-video-cowherd-nba|website=[[USA Today|For The Win]]|access-date=August 4, 2017|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> Ball, however, denied threatening her.<ref name=ftwtheherd /> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reacted to the exchange: "LaVar Ball officially has moved from outlandish to obnoxious."<ref name="wapoleahy">{{cite
Ball drew further criticism for sexism as the coach of the Big Baller Brand [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) team on July 28, 2017, at the [[Adidas]] Summer Championships in [[Las Vegas]], after having a female referee who gave him a technical foul be replaced.<ref name=wapoaau /><ref name="espnaau">{{cite web|last1=Borzello|first1=Jeff|title=Female referee removed after LaVar Ball threatens to pull team off court|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20183144/female-referee-removed-lavar-ball-threatens-pull-aau-team-court|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=October 15, 2017|date=August 8, 2017}}</ref> After being called for the foul, Ball asked Adidas tournament organizers to replace the referee, who he had argued with on previous occasions, and then threatened to pull his team from the game if they did not comply.<ref name="wapoaau">{{cite
Days after the incident, the officiating group for the event, Court Club Elite, cut ties with Adidas.<ref name="courtclubelite">{{cite web|last1=Medcalf|first1=Myron|title=Officiating group cutting ties with Adidas after replacement of female referee|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20203049/officiating-group-terminating-relationship-adidas-replacement-female-referee|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 4, 2017|date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> In a statement, they said, "Adidas and their leadership acted in a manner that does not parallel our views on integrity or professionalism, and neither should be compromised as they were in this situation."<ref name=courtclubelite /> Adidas issued an apology, saying that removing the referee was "the wrong decision."<ref name="waporef">{{cite
On June 20, 2019, Ball made an appearance on ESPN's First Take to discuss the recent trade of his son Lonzo to the [[New Orleans Pelicans]] as part of the return for [[Anthony Davis]]. When host [[Molly Qerim]] asked Ball, "Can I switch gears with you because I have a question here?", Ball replied "You can switch gears with me anytime.", which was interpreted as being sexually suggestive. ESPN released a statement later that day stating that they have "no plans moving forward" to have Ball appear on any of their programs again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2019/06/19/lavar-ball-wont-appear-espn-molly-qerim-comments|title = Report: ESPN will no longer feature LaVar Ball on platforms| date=June 19, 2019 }}</ref>
===Parenting style===
Since rising to fame, Ball's words and actions have sparked significant debate over his [[parenting]], which has drawn both praise and criticism.<ref name="forbesparenting">{{cite web|last1=Cook|first1=Bob|title=Is LaVar Ball A Bad Sports Parent?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2017/03/11/is-lavar-ball-a-bad-sports-parent/|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=October 11, 2017|date=March 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="viceparenting">{{cite web|last1=Wilmes|first1=John|title=You Wish Your Dad was LaVar Ball, Stop Hating on Him|url=https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/ezeek4/you-wish-your-dad-was-lavar-ball-stop-hating-on-him|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|access-date=October 11, 2017|date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> His parenting style, which has produced a wide range of opinions, has been compared to those of [[Richard Williams (tennis coach)|Richard Williams]], [[Earl Woods]], and [[Marv Marinovich]].<ref name=globemailparenting/><ref name=armour/><ref name="wapolavar">{{cite
==Personal life==
Ball met his wife, Tina Slatinsky, at Cal State Los Angeles, and they married in 1997. They have three sons, [[Lonzo Ball|Lonzo]], [[LiAngelo Ball|LiAngelo]], and [[LaMelo Ball|LaMelo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/wont-believe-last-name-three-basketball-champions-dominating-game/|title=How This Family of Prodigies Turned a Public School into a Basketball Powerhouse|date=May 13, 2016|first= Patrick|last= Goldstein |work=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles magazine]]}}</ref> Lonzo is currently a point guard for the [[Chicago Bulls]], LaMelo is a point guard for the [[Charlotte Hornets]], and LiAngelo last played shooting guard/small forward for the Charlotte Hornets in the [[2021 NBA Summer League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-lamelo-liangelo-ball-exploring-options-play-professionally-overseas-030107550.html|title=Sources: LaMelo, LiAngelo Ball exploring options to play professionally overseas|date=December 5, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=LaMelo Ball thrilled to play for Hornets, Jordan {{!}} NBA.com|url=https://www.nba.com/news/hornets-select-lamelo-ball-with-no-3-pick|access-date=November 21, 2020|website=www.nba.com}}</ref> Both LiAngelo and LaMelo were previously signed with the [[BC Prienai|Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas]] of the [[Lietuvos krepšinio lyga|Lithuanian Basketball League]] from December 11, 2017, until April 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/04/25/lavar-ball-pulling-liangelo-lamelo-from-lithuania-over-coach-dispute/|title=LaVar Ball pulling LiAngelo, LaMelo from Lithuania over coach dispute|date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> LaVar also was an assistant coach during the fourth game of the [[Big Baller Brand Challenge Games]] for the Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas on January 23, 2018, and was named head coach for the final game of the event five days later.<ref>{{cite web|title=LaVar Ball to be assistant coach for LiAngelo and LaMelo's team for friendly in Lithuania|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22187745/lavar-ball-serve-assistant-coach-liangelo-lamelo-team-lithuania|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=January 23, 2018|date=January 23, 2018}}</ref> He later coached Vytautas once again for the [[Big Baller Brand International Tournament]], as well as a couple other exhibition games against other international teams.<ref>{{cite web|title=LaVaras dar kartą stos prie "Vytauto" vairo|url=https://www.basketnews.lt/news-118340-lavaras-dar-karta-stos-prie-vytauto-vairo.html|website=BasketNews.lt|access-date=February 24, 2018|language=lt|date=February 24, 2018}}</ref> His wife, Tina, suffered a stroke in 2017, which left her dealing with [[aphasia]] in relation to it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2017/12/24/ball-in-the-family-tina-ball-lavar-ball-noni-aphasia-facebook-watch/|title = 'Ball in the Family' explains Tina Ball's speech condition|date = December 25, 2017}}</ref>
After his youngest son, LaMelo, reached four years of age, Ball began training all of his sons to play basketball.<ref name="architect">{{cite web|last1=Stephens|first1=Mitch|title=The Architect: Father of the Ball brothers speaks about growth of Chino Hills|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/jHzX-KpBGky5RKqc8SXiYA/the-architect--father-of-the-ball-brothers-speaks-about-growth-of-chino-hills.htm|website=MaxPreps.com|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=March 26, 2016}}</ref> They were taught many skills by their father and later played for his [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) team, Big Ballers VXT.<ref name="ballfather">{{cite web|last1=Kartje|first1=Ryan|title=The Ballfather: LaVar Ball and his 3 sons intend to change basketball forever|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lavar-746233-hills-chino.html|website=[[Orange County Register]]|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> For a relatively short period of time in their childhoods, Ball also had them play [[flag football]], with Lonzo playing [[quarterback]] and his other sons catching passes.<ref name=architect/> Following an illustrious career at [[Chino Hills High School]] in [[Chino Hills, California]], Lonzo became a star at UCLA. Ball's younger sons played at the same high school and originally both committed to UCLA, with LiAngelo briefly attending there in 2017 before joining LaMelo out in Lithuania later that year, as well as with the [[Los Angeles Ballers]] in the JBA.<ref name="tribune">{{cite web|last1=Schilken|first1=Chuck|title=LaVar Ball, father of UCLA star Lonzo Ball, says he could have beaten Michael Jordan one-on-one|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/ct-lavar-ball-michael-jordan-20170314-story.html|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref>
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