LaVar Ball, father of the Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, underwent an amputation on his right foot due to a serious medical issue, as reported by TMZ Sports on Wednesday.

Ball had the procedure performed on Wednesday and is said to be in good spirits following the surgery.

He has been well-known in the public eye since 2017 when Lonzo became eligible for the NBA Draft. Ball infamously claimed that Lonzo would be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, which came true when Lonzo was selected with the No. 2 pick.

He’s also recognized for making bold statements, such as asserting he could defeat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one game or that Lonzo was the standout player on a Lakers team that also featured LeBron James.

In 2016, the 57-year-old Ball founded ‘Big Baller Brand’, with each of his sons — LaMelo, Lonzo, and LiAngelo — having their own signature shoes. However, the brand’s website was temporarily shut down in 2019.

In 2017, LaVar established the Junior Basketball Association with financial support from Big Baller Brand, where both LiAngelo and LaMelo played.

Currently, LaMelo Ball is having a career-best season averaging 27.3 points per game. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball has made a return to the NBA after an injury hiatus of three years. LiAngelo Ball has pursued a career in music after playing for the Hornets’ G League affiliate.

LaMelo and Lonzo were both top-three picks in their respective NBA drafts, in 2020 and 2017 respectively.