LaVar Ball Blames NBA Strength And Conditioning Programs, ‘Raggedy Shoes’ For Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball Injuries

During an interview with Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, LaVar Ball blamed NBA strength and conditioning programs and “raggedy shoes” for his son’s injuries. 

Both Lonzo Ball and LaMelo Ball have been injury-prone since entering the NBA. 

“They say, oh, LaVar, you worked the boys out too hard — that’s why they hurt,” LaVar said. “No, the reason they 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.”

Lonzo hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022. He underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee last March.

Meanwhile, LaMelo has only played in 58 games the past two seasons. 

“They’ve been trained hard enough? No, no, no,” LaVar said. “Because you condition your body for running and jumping. 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.”

Lonzo has career averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls. He was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers. 

“What Lonzo does, he makes everybody better around him,” LaVar said. “He’s been like that all his life. So when people used to be like, ‘Oh, he’s going to the Bulls and he’s the fourth option,’ and this and that, that doesn’t go into his head.

LaMelo has career averages of 20.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Hornets. He was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. 

LaMelo won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year Award and made the 2022 All-Star team.

“Well, mentally, they got a strong mindset,” LaVar said. “They Balls. So they’re going to come back. They’re going to rehab. They’re going to do their thing.”