A successful opening night with the Minnesota Timberwolves should have given LaMelo Ball plenty to celebrate, but the 25-year-old guard instead found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy over his responsibilities as a father.
Ball scored 21 points and recorded six assists in Minnesota's convincing 131-106 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, delivering an encouraging performance in his first regular-season appearance with the franchise.
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However, an interview with veteran ESPN broadcaster Ernie Johnson produced a moment that quickly attracted more attention than his statistics.
Asked whether he changes the diapers of his nine-month-old son, LaOne, Ball explained that the responsibility generally falls to his girlfriend, Ana Montana.
His response prompted immediate surprise from Johnson and subsequently generated criticism among basketball fans discussing the exchange online.
The conversation began when Johnson asked the Timberwolves star about his experiences caring for his young son.
"Nah, my girl do all that," Ball replied, referring to Montana and her role in handling diaper changes.
Johnson appeared unconvinced by the arrangement, suggesting that the quarterback-like playmaker was missing an important part of parenthood.
"Man, you don't know what you're missing," Johnson responded.
Ball then clarified that he had changed diapers before, but maintained that it was not something he considered his regular responsibility: "It's just not my job," he said.
Although the exchange appeared lighthearted, the admission quickly became a talking point, with critics questioning why a routine parenting task should be assigned exclusively to one partner.
NBA fans question Ball's approach to fatherhood
The comments prompted a wider discussion about how parents divide responsibilities while raising young children.
Some social media users criticized Ball's position, arguing that changing diapers should be a shared responsibility rather than something automatically assigned to a child's mother.
Others pointed out that the brief interview offered little information about the couple's broader parenting arrangements or how they manage their household.
Ball and Montana welcomed their son, LaOne, in January 2026, beginning a new chapter in their relationship.
While the basketball star's remarks made clear that Montana usually handles diaper changes, they didn't establish how the couple divide their other responsibilities.
Montana hasn't publicly addressed the latest discussion surrounding her boyfriend's comments.