Lavar Ball is a name that has become synonymous with basketball, albeit not for his own achievements on the court, but for the accomplishments of his three sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo. The Ball family patriarch has certainly not been shy about promoting his sons’ talents, and his boisterous nature has led to some intriguing questions about his own history with the sport. One question that often comes up is, “Did Lavar Ball play in the NBA?”
To address this query, it’s important to track back to the roots of Lavar’s basketball career. Born on October 23, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, Lavar was a multi-sport athlete in his youth, excelling in both basketball and American football. He played basketball at Canoga Park High School in Los Angeles and later at West Los Angeles College. His college basketball career also included a stint at Washington State during the 1987-88 season where he averaged 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds per game over 26 games. He then transferred to Cal State Los Angeles, wrapping up his college basketball career.
The next phase of Lavar’s sports career took a detour from the hardwood to the gridiron. He played as a tight end for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football (later NFL Europe) in 1995. Interestingly, Lavar also had brief football stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers as a practice squad member in 1995 and 1996, respectively, but he never played an official regular-season game in the NFL.
Now, back to the burning question: did Lavar Ball ever play in the National Basketball Association (NBA)? The short answer is no, he did not. Despite his involvement in basketball during his high school and college years, Lavar did not make it to the NBA as a player.
However, this hasn’t stopped him from making some rather bold claims about his basketball skills. He once famously stated in an interview that in his prime, he could have beaten Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, in a one-on-one game. This statement, like many others from Lavar, stirred controversy and raised some eyebrows in the sports world.
While Lavar himself did not play in the NBA, his dream of having his sons play in the league has come true. Lonzo Ball was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and currently plays for the Chicago Bulls. The youngest son, LaMelo Ball, followed in his brother’s footsteps and was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, now playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Middle son, LiAngelo, has had a more winding path, but he has also had NBA Summer League stints and was part of the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets organizations, though he hasn’t secured a regular-season spot yet.
Lavar Ball may not have an NBA career to look back on, but his impact on the sport is undeniable. Through his sons, his brand ‘Big Baller Brand’, and his outspoken nature, Lavar has carved out a unique place in basketball’s cultural landscape. He’s a fascinating character, and while his personal NBA ambitions may not have materialized, he’s certainly left his mark on the sport.