Inside the rapid rise of the Ball family: How a former athlete trained 3 potential NBA players and became the most hated man in basketball

NBA rookies Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum have been impressive in their first professional season, but if there's one newcomer who has left his mark on the American basketball scene, it's LaVar Ball.

After falling short in his own quest to attain fame as a professional athlete, Ball made it his life's mission to get his three sons to the NBA. So far, the plan has worked - the oldest, Lonzo Ball, is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and his younger brothers may follow behind him.

Intense training is one aspect of Ball's strategy to vault his sons into superstardom, but so is attention-seeking behavior. Over the past year, he has made numerous inflammatory comments, sparred with some of the game's foremost figures, and drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, all while relentlessly promoting his business venture: Big Baller Brand.

Below, read up on the rapid rise of one of the most intriguing families in all of sports.