The Los Angeles Lakers had a very messy season, and even towards the end, the Ball family and their business associates were causing some additional headaches for the team’s braintrust.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, in late February, the team had to step in and stop guard Lonzo Ball from undergoing unauthorized surgery on his ankle. That surgery was being planned by now-estranged business partner Alan Foster with the knowledge and consent of LaVar Ball.
The Ohio-based surgeon had previously operated on Lonzo’s brother LiAngelo, and the team only found out when Lonzo called GM Rob Pelinka. At that point, the Lakers said they would not allow the procedure, and even threatened to void Lonzo Ball’s contract if he went through with it against their orders.
Pelinka and then-president Magic Johnson worked with Ball’s former agent Harrison Gaines to ensure the procedure did not occur. Pelinka and Johnson even traveled to Ball’s doctor appointments to ensure that he was sticking to his assigned rehab.
Amazingly, Ball’s surgery was being pushed by the same man who Ball is now suing for fraud. It’s been quite the chaotic few months for the Lakers, but the same is true of the Ball family as well. As for the Lakers, things like this are exactly why Johnson ran from the job, and why they need to get their replacement hire absolutely right.
