LaVar Ball was all smiles before his son LaMelo and the Hornets’ win over the Lakers on Wednesday night despite recently having his right foot amputated.
The Charlotte star posted a photo on Instagram next to his father, who had a walking scooter on his right leg, on Thursday, the day news of his operation came to light.
“Seen my dawg b4 da game it was only right i love u pops 5L and after,” LaMelo wrote on the social media platform.
TMZ reported Wednesday that the Big Baller Brand co-founder, who is also the father of Bulls guard Lonzo Ball and former NBA player LiAngelo Ball, recently underwent a procedure to have his right foot removed after suffering a “serious medical issue.”
He was said to be in great spirits and doing well, according to the outlet.
LaVar, 57, was an outspoken advocate for his sons early in their playing careers, though he has taken a step back from the public eye in recent years.
Over the years, LaVar has launched his own basketball league, taken shots at Michael Jordan and LeBron James, among many others, and appeared frequently on ESPN’s airwaves.
LaMelo dropped 27 points with six assists and five rebounds during the Hornets’ 100-97 upset win over the Lakers.
The 23-year-old former NBA All-Star is averaging a career-high 27.3 points with 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this season.
LaVar was a former athlete himself, playing college basketball at Cal State-Los Angeles and a year of football at Long Beach City College before spending time on the New York Jets’ and the Carolina Panthers’ practice squads.
