Ball in the Family

Ball in the Family is an American reality television series that premiered on August 29, 2017 on Facebook Watch. The show documents the personal and professional lives of LaVar Ball's family of basketball players. The sixth season premiered on October 18, 2020.

FB ballinthefamily

Production

Development

On July 5, 2017, it was announced that Facebook had greenlit a then-untitled reality show starring the Ball family. The number and length of episodes had yet to be determined at the time. On October 17, 2017, it was announced that Facebook had renewed the show for a second season. On May 14, 2018, it was reported that the show had been renewed for a third season.
The show is referred to internally by Facebook as one of their "hero shows" alongside other programs such as Strangers and Returning the Favor.

Music

The series' theme song was "Big Bag" by Wes Period. A friend of Period's was working with the Ball family to find music for the show and told him about it. Period came to them with his song and they told him that they would use in the end credits of an episode. Instead, the producers of the series ended up making it the show's official theme.

Cast

Main

Lonzo Ball, the eldest son in the Ball family, and current guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers
LiAngelo Ball, the middle son in the Ball family, and rapper.
LaMelo Ball, the youngest son in the Ball family, and current guard for the Charlotte Hornets
LaVar Ball, the patriarch of the Ball family, owner of Big Baller Brand, and founder of Junior Basketball Association
Tina Ball, the matriarch of the Ball family

Recurring

Denise Garcia, Lonzo's ex girlfriend and mother of his daughter
Zoey Ball, Lonzo and Denise's baby daughter
Alan Foster, LaVar's former business partner
Darren "DMO" Moore, Lonzo's manager and family friend
Horace, family friend
Noni Slatinsky, Tina's mother
Robert Slatinsky, Tina's father
Anderson Ball, LaVar's father
Maria Ball, LaVar's mother
LaValle Ball, LaVar's brother
Ren Ball, LaVar's brother
'Dre Ball, LaVar's brother
Jhaylen Ball, LaVar's niece
Andre Ball, LaVar's nephew

Reception

Critical response

The first season was met with a generally positive reception from critics. Haley O'Shaughnessy of The Ringer wrote that the show "combines everything you'd expect with a touch of nuance and sympathy." Myron Medcalf of ESPN compared the show favorably to other Bunim/Murray production Keeping Up with the Kardashians saying that "unlike the Kardashians, who never really care about authenticity, Ball in the Family tries to be sympathetic to the Ball patriarch while showing his brashness isn't just there to generate social media buzz."

Viewership

The show premiered on Facebook Watch on August 29, 2017 and the first episode was viewed by more than 26 million people.