LaVar Ball and Tina's 28-year relationship timeline explored following separation

LaVar Ball has confirmed that he and his wife, Tina Ball, have separated after nearly 30 years together, bringing renewed attention to one of basketball’s most recognisable family partnerships.

The Big Baller Brand co-founder discussed the separation during a recent conversation with streamer N3on, where he revealed that Tina had decided to move on in a different direction.

“You know with my wife, Tina decided to go her own way that’s why you don’t see her right here,” LaVar said.

He continued, “But she want to go do something else, that’s fine with me. We had our run. So even though she had the stroke, and getting older, she would never be like, ‘Oh man, she was always beautiful in my eyes.’ Until you say, ‘I want to go do something else.’ Now you’re not as beautiful to me again.”

LaVar also suggested that both had accepted the end of the relationship.

“The fact that if you decide to go this way, I’m going to go that way, that’s fine… It is what it is, man. And like I said, anytime you can find somebody you can stay in love with for a long time or for one day or whatever, if you can witness that love, that’s good. I had that with her,” he added.

The couple’s relationship began while they were both students at California State University, Los Angeles. Tina was a talented basketball player, while LaVar pursued both basketball and American football before continuing his sporting career at college level.

They married in 1997, the same year they welcomed their eldest son, Lonzo Ball. Their second son, LiAngelo Ball, was born in 1998, followed by LaMelo Ball in 2001. All three sons later went on to pursue professional basketball careers.

Reflecting on their first meeting in a previous interview with ESPN, LaVar recalled approaching Tina and saying, “You and me.. we're gonna do something.. you just don't know it yet.. You may not like me.. You may think I'm cocky or arrogant.. But you will be thinking about me.”

The separation marks the end of a relationship that spanned almost three decades and played a significant role in shaping one of basketball’s most well-known families.