LaVar Ball has never been shy about his opinions, especially when it comes to his long-running feud with Michael Jordan. Now, even after undergoing a leg amputation earlier this year, the 56-year-old Ball is doubling down on one of his most infamous boasts: that he could beat the greatest basketball player of all time one-on-one.
In a recent video, Ball looked directly into the camera and repeated the claim that has followed him for years.
“You know I can, all day everyday. I took it off so it would be even.”
The reference to “taking it off” was to his amputated right leg, which he lost a few months ago due to health complications. While most people would see such a setback as reason to step away from outrageous declarations, Ball insists the loss of his limb hasn’t shaken his confidence.
Back in March, not long after his amputation, he made a similar claim: “People been saying I still can’t beat Michael Jordan one-on-one, especially without my foot. Well, guess what? If I really wanted to, I can give him 70 and an a**-whoopin.”
Ball’s bold talk dates back nearly a decade, when he first burst into the public eye while promoting his sons Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball. At the time, he claimed he could have beaten Michael Jordan in his prime, despite averaging just 2.2 points per game at Washington State during his college career.
The remark quickly went viral and eventually made its way back to Jordan, who gave a memorable response in 2017.
“You gotta understand the source. He played college, averaged two points a game… I don’t think he could have beat me if I was one-legged.”
That dismissive jab only fueled Ball’s fire, and the back-and-forth has become a running joke in basketball circles ever since.
Even in 2025, the spectacle continues. Ball has leaned into his showman persona, seemingly aware that his comments draw attention regardless of whether anyone takes them seriously. His latest twist, claiming the amputation actually makes a matchup with Jordan “even”, is both outrageous and classic LaVar.
But Ball hasn’t stopped at Jordan. Over the years, he has taken shots at other NBA legends, too. At one point, he flat-out called out Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
Ball has spent years tossing verbal grenades at NBA greats. He once dismissed the idea that his son LaMelo should seek Jordan’s advice while with the Charlotte Hornets, saying, “When was the last time he won a championship? The game has changed. What’s he gonna tell him?”
Yet in a rare twist, Ball has admitted Jordan is the GOAT: “That dude ain’t got no losses in the Finals.”
That backhanded respect doesn’t stop him from continuing to insist he could take Jordan down in a game of one-on-one.
Even his son LaMelo was once asked to pick between his father and Jordan in such a matchup. His diplomatic response?
“That is my pops and my boss, so I’m on both sides now.”
In typical LaVar fashion, he has also weighed in on what the ideal basketball star would look like. His version? Michael Jordan’s mentality combined with LeBron James’ athleticism. For a man who once built his entire Big Baller Brand empire on hype and bravado, the claim fits right in with the rest of his outlandish takes.
The truth, of course, is obvious. Jordan is widely considered the greatest player of all time, with six championships, five MVP awards, and a résumé that speaks for itself. Even at 62 years old, it’s hard to imagine him struggling in a one-on-one game against Ball, who never made it past college basketball and whose body has been severely limited by age and health issues.
But LaVar has never let reality get in the way of a good headline. Whether it’s predicting his sons’ Hall of Fame careers or trash-talking Jordan, he thrives on the spotlight.
