Tina Ball is the mother of Lamelo Ball and the wife of Lavar Ball. The 56-year-old celebrity mom and wife was also a talented basketball player in her school days, recording great feats.
As a mother, Tina is often seen cheering her sons at their basketball matches. She has played a major role in her sons’ careers. The varsity player has managed to keep her personal life off social media, but news about her stroke made rounds online in 2017. She’s currently recuperating and continues to impact her sons’ lives. Here’s all you need about Tina Ball’s life, from her early career to marriage, children, and business.
Summary of Tina Ball’s Bio
- Full name: Christina Catherine Ball
- Nickname: Mama Ball
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 11 December 1967
- Tina Ball’s Age:56
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Saggitarius
- Religion: Christian
- Education: Alta Loma High School, California State University
- Marital Status: Married
- Tina Ball’s Husband: Lavar Ball
- Tina Ball’s Children: Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball
- Tina Ball’s Grandchild: Zoey Christina Ball
- Tina Ball’s Parents: Robert Slatinsky and Catherine Slatinsky
- Tina Ball’s Height in Inches: 6’ 1”
- Tina Ball’s Height in Centimetres: 185 cm
- Tina Ball’s Weight: 70 kg or 154 lbs
- Body measurements in inches: 33 – 26 – 34
- Tina Ball’s Net worth: $1.5 Million
- Famous for: LaMelo Ball’s Mother and LaVar Ball’s Wife
- Tina Ball’s Instagram: @tinaballofficial
- Facebook: Tina Ball
Tina Ball is a Native of Miami, Florida
Tina Ball is 56 years old. Though she’s advancing in age, she’s been able to stay fit with her towering height of 6’ 1”. Tina Ball has a trim build that complements her weight. Tina Ball, also known as Christina Catherine Slatinsky, was born on December 11, 1967, to the family of Robert and Catherine Slatinsky in Miami, Florida.
Being a private person, there aren’t many details about her upbringing. However, her love for basketball is much talked about. At an early age, Tina developed an interest in sports and athletics.
She Played High School and College Basketball
Tina Ball exhibited her sporting prowess at Alta Loma High School, where she garnered her 4-year varsity basketball letter awards. During her senior year, she was an All-Baseline League pick, averaging 15.8 points and 18.2 rebounds.
To advance her basketball career, she chose California State University as her preferred tertiary institution of study. Due to her excellent basketball skills, Tina represented her school in the ‘Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles Women’s Team competition.
Tina Ball recorded milestones in her college basketball career. She ranked 8th with 935 points, fifth in field goal attempts with 1165 points, eighth in field goals with 541 points, fourth in rebounds with 627 points, eighth in free throws with 120 points, and seventh in free throws attempted with 208 points.
Meet Her Husband and Children
| Relationship to Tina Ball | Name | More Details |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | LaVar Ball | Media personality and businessman, founder of the Big Baller Brand. |
| Son | Lonzo Ball | Professional basketball player in the NBA. |
| Son | LiAngelo Ball | Professional basketball player, has played in various basketball leagues. |
| Son | LaMelo Ball | Professional basketball player in the NBA. |
Tina Ball is the Wife of LaVar Ball
Tina Ball’s husband is Lavar Ball, an American businessman and former professional football player. Lavar was born on October 23, 1967, to Anderson and Maria Ball in South Angeles, California. He had a brief stint as a football and basketball player before retiring in 1995 due to injury. Upon retirement, he became a personal trainer, helping people achieve fitness.
Lavar Ball is also the co-founder and chief executive officer of the sports apparel company Big Baller Brand and founder of the now-defunct Junior Basketball Association. He is often in the news for controversies with ex-president Donald Trump or other players.
They Got Married in 1997 and Are Still Together
Tina met her husband, Lavar Ball, on the basketball court while schooling at California State University. By that time, Lavar had transferred from West Los Angeles College to her institution, California State University.
According to Lavar, it was love at first sight. He couldn’t resist the tall, attractive lady so he reportedly walked up to Tina and said, “I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’re going to do something”. He further stated his intention to marry her and how they’ll have boys and build a basketball family legacy. Tina was taken aback by his cockiness and confidence.
Interestingly, Lavar’s honest intent played out well, and the basketball couple got married in 1997. They’ve been married for over 27 years now. The couple is blessed with three boys, Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball, who are all professional basketball players.
They Have Three Children Who all Play Basketball
Tina Ball gave birth to LaMelo on the 22nd of August, 2001. He’s the youngest of the three Ball boys. The eldest, Lonzo Ball, was born on October 27, 1997, while LiAngelo Ball was born on 24th November 1998. As the boys grew, Tina made it a routine to play basketball with them, hence helping kickstart their basketball career.
Lonzo plays for Chicago Bulls as a Point Guard, while LiAngelo is a shooting guard for the Greensboro Swarm basketball team. The youngest, LaMelo, plays as a point guard for Charlotte Hornets. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, La Melo was a top prospect in the 2020 NBA draft.
Tina Ball has Supported her Son’s NBA Career
Tina has been instrumental in the success of her sons’ careers, especially LaMelo Ball. She was always present for his matches. As an athletic director, she was a driving force behind his hard work and determination. She also worked to secure lucrative deals for her son.
LaMelo ranks among the youngest NBA players. Boasting an impressive career, he has played for Vytautaus Prienal and is currently a point guard for the Charlotte Hornets. His shooting ability and flashy play are much talked about. Little wonder several NBA teams are looking to add him to their roster.
Thanks to the support from his parents, LaMelo has garnered many accolades in the course of his basketball career. The young point guard was NBA Rookie of the Year 2021. He has also achieved NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2021 and NBA All-Star honors in 2022. Additionally, LaMelo is the first 16-year-old with a signature shoe, the Melo Ball 1, a clothing line, customized emoji, and Puma sponsorship.
She is a Basketball Coach and Businesswoman
After Tina Ball graduated from California State University in 1991, she drew the curtains on being a professional athlete and dipped her toes into basketball coaching instead. Mama Ball, as she’s fondly called, took up the role of an Athletic Director at Vernon Middle School in Montclair, California.
Besides her coaching job, she and her husband oversee their family business, Big Baller Brand, which started in 2016. The household name “Big Baller Brand” consists of subsidiaries like 3B Shoes, Lady 3 B, and Girl 3 B (clothing lines). According to Lavar, the brand was built to leverage the basketball prowess of their sons.
Tina, alongside her family, also started a reality show, Ball In The Family, in August 2017. The show, which centers around the family, attracted 26 million views across the globe.
What Happened To Tina Ball’s Health?
Tina Ball suffered a massive stroke in February 2017. She was just 49 years old at the time, and the initial prognosis was bleak. The medics said that she may not survive and that even if she did, she might be left in a vegetative state. Tina defied all odds, but there were fears that she may never walk again or stand again.
The stroke affected her right side, her ability to walk, and even her ability to speak. The doctors recommended a speech therapist and a physical therapist, but her husband, as well as her parents, decided to instead guide her through therapy, and 11 months after suffering the stroke, she was able to move around with a cane and speak.
Where is Tina Ball Now, and What is She Doing?
Tina Ball is presently in Chino Hills, California, where she lives with her husband. She continues to work on her full recovery with the support of her loved ones. Her courage has been praised by her husband as well as her famous sons, who speak about the hard work she puts in the gym most days of the week.
Her public appearances are few and far between, but in November 2021, she and her husband stepped out to watch their two sons, Lonzo Ball (Chicago Bulls) and LaMelo Ball (The Charlotte Hornets), play against each other.
Tina Ball’s Height
Tina Ball’s height is 6 feet 1 inch or 185 cm. She is taller than the average woman out there, and her height meant that she could play basketball during her school days. Despite how impressive her height is, Tina Ball is still shorter than her sons as well as her husband. Her husband, LaVar Ball, is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall, which means that she is four inches shorter.
On the other hand, her sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, are 6 feet 6 inches, 6 feet 5 inches, and 6 feet 7 inches tall, respectively, and she is shorter than them as well.
Tina Ball’s Net Worth
Tina Ball’s net worth is $1.5 million, and she earned this from her role as the co-founder of the Big Baller Brand. Founded in 2016, the Big Baller Brand is an apparel and shoe company and they are notable for having produced signature shoes for all of the Ball brothers. This has generated revenue running into tens of millions of dollars for the company.
Tina Ball also has plans for her own signature shoe, which will be tagged The Comeback Shoe, a nod to her hard-fought battle to overcome the stroke that she suffered at the age of 49.
FAQs
Who are LaMelo Ball’s Parents?
LaMelo Ball’s parents are LaVar Ball and Tina Ball. The two both played college basketball at Cal State University Los Angeles which is where they met and began dating.
How Tall is LaMelo Ball’s Mom?
LaMelo Ball’s mom, Tina Ball, is 6 feet 1 inch tall, which is the same as 185 cm. She is six inches shorter than LaMelo, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall.