Rashida Nicole, the former partner of ex-basketball player and rapper LiAngelo Ball, has announced the birth of their daughter and revealed that Ball was not present at the hospital by her own choice. In an Instagram “transparency update” shared on December 2, 2025, Nicole disclosed that she navigated the final five months of her pregnancy entirely on her own.
She explained that she chose to give birth without Ball present after enduring significant emotional distress during their relationship. Nicole also revealed her newborn daughter’s name: Lilo Legacy is a symbol of a new chapter that she is determined to face with strength and independence.
Rashida Nicole Reveals Emotional Breaking Point and Confirms Split from LiAngelo Ball
In her Instagram post, Rashida Nicole clarified that her choice to keep LiAngelo Ball out of the delivery room was deliberate and far from last-minute.
“I chose for my child’s father not to be at my delivery. That decision came after months of emotional pain, hurtful words, and complete absence during the most vulnerable season of my life,” she wrote, emphasizing that the decision stemmed from a prolonged period of strain.
Nicole revealed that she handled the latter half of her pregnancy entirely on her own. “For the last five months, I’ve done everything alone. Every appointment, every milestone, every challenge,” she shared, underscoring the emotional weight of navigating pregnancy without support.
She also explained that she refused Ball’s presence during childbirth because, in her view, it would have been more about optics than accountability. “So no, I wasn’t going to allow a five-minute delivery room photo opportunity for the internet,” she stated.
The model confirmed that she and LiAngelo Ball are officially divorcing. While acknowledging the difficulty of the process, Nicole said she is ready to move forward and begin a new chapter centered on healing, stability, and her newborn daughter.
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In her post, Nicole also addressed Nikki Mudarris, Ball’s former partner and the mother of his other children, offering an apology and expressing gratitude for her support. “Thank you to her and her family for supporting me during this pregnancy. Your grace means more than you know,” she wrote, acknowledging the unexpected solidarity between them.
Nicole ended her statement with a firm declaration that she would no longer cover for someone who had repeatedly failed her. “I won’t protect someone who never protected me. Someone who disrespected me, lied on me, and pushed a one-sided narrative to avoid accountability, continue to inflict pain and build broken homes.”
Though the two women had previously clashed publicly, Nicole suggested their conflict was fueled by Ball’s alleged dishonesty about his relationship status, which she claims created tension and misunderstandings between them.
LiAngelo Ball Reveals He Quit Basketball After Earning Only $3,000 a Month
Former G League player–turned–rapper LiAngelo Ball has opened up about the real reason he walked away from professional basketball: financial instability. During an appearance on the BagFuel podcast in August 2025, Ball revealed that he was earning just $3,000 a month during his time in the NBA G League and throughout his overseas stints, an income he said was nowhere near enough for a grown man trying to build a stable future.
Ball admitted that the financial gap between him and his brothers added to the pressure. While he struggled to secure steady paychecks, his older and younger brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, landed major NBA contracts, creating a stark contrast that weighed heavily on him and ultimately influenced his decision to step away from the sport.
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Despite the relentless effort he put into his basketball career, the financial return was painfully limited. On the BagFuel podcast, Ball summed it up bluntly: “As a grown man $3k ain’t helping nothing.”
The shift came when he debuted as a rapper under the name Gelo. His track Tweaker went viral, instantly changing the trajectory of his career. Shortly afterward, Ball secured a lucrative record deal with Def Jam/Universal Music Group, a contract reportedly worth up to $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed.
The newfound stability and opportunity he found in music stood in stark contrast to the paycheck-to-paycheck reality he experienced in the G League, ultimately solidifying his decision to move on from basketball.
