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LaVar Ball missed Sweet 16 game to tend to ailing wife

Richard Mackson / USA TODAY Sports

LaVar Ball was absent from UCLA's Sweet 16 game versus Kentucky on Friday because he was tending to his ailing wife, Tina, he revealed to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

The outspoken 48-year-old's whereabouts were a mystery during the contest, as LaVar had been present around the Bruins and his son Lonzo all season. The Balls reside in Chino Hills, Calif., while UCLA traveled to Memphis for the Sweet 16.

"She's making progress," LaVar said. "It's been a slow recovery."

He didn't elaborate on what's been plaguing his wife, and the Bruins saw their season come to an end without him in attendance.

Lonzo, meanwhile, struggled in the affair, posting 10 points and eight assists. He declared for the 2017 NBA Draft immediately following the loss.

"When I talked to him after the game, I told him, 'You're going to win. You're going to lose. It's OK. No one goes undefeated,'" LaVar said. "They went 15-17 last year and went to the Sweet 16. This won't be his legacy. It's just a step to get to the ultimate goal - the NBA."

LaVar previously guaranteed his son would lead UCLA to the national championship. He was the brunt of several Twitter jokes once the final buzzer sounded on the Bruins' 86-75 defeat.

"He said after the game that he didn't make enough plays," LaVar added of Lonzo. "He understands there are plays he should have made, that he wasn't aggressive enough. He started off aggressive, but then eased up and went into pass-mode."

Though his eldest son is now NBA-bound, the brash father still plans to hang around the Bruins for a while to come. Both his younger sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, are UCLA commits, with the former on track to join the program next season.

"He's (LiAngelo is) chasing Lonzo and has the same mindset," LaVar said. "He's a different type of player. He's 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and is a scorer. He might average 20 next year, maybe even close to 30 a game. He's been a scorer all his life. He's led Chino Hills in scoring all four years. UCLA is losing all their scorers - Lonzo, TJ (Leaf), and (Isaac) Hamilton. Nobody who's coming in is a better scorer than Gelo."

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