LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball both erupt in dad's new league where defense doesn't exist
After not getting drafted last month, LiAngelo Ball had hoped to land with an NBA Summer League team, but no team came calling.
At the time, the 19-year-old said playing in his father LaVar Ball’s Junior Basketball Association was not an option.
“I’ll be willing to play in the G-League and get moved up from there. That’s an option. I’m not going to play in the JBA. I feel like that’s taking a step back for me. If I have to play in the G-League then that’s what it’s going to be. I’m not running away from the work,” Ball said June 28.
But times have changed as options have dwindled. LiAngelo swallowed his pride and joined the JBA, it was announced earlier this week.
https://twitter.com/bbbjbaleague/status/1016343737469980674
“I just want to win for the team. That’s all I want to do, win. I’m trying to play ball and I’m trying to get better every day,” he said after signing with the Los Angeles Ballers, where he’s playing alongside his little brother, LaMelo.
LiAngelo made his JBA debut Thursday and it was pretty auspicious. He dropped 53 points in LA’s 171-140 win over Philadelphia. He also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The fact that his team scored 171 points pretty much says it all — there’s not a lot of defense being played in the JBA. See for yourself.
https://twitter.com/jdobbins_97/status/1017646461952184320
LiAngelo took a ridiculous 42 shots, hitting on 24 of them.
“I feel good,” he said after the game, reported USA Today. “I wanted to come out and get the hang of things and it was a good win.”
The 16-year-old LaMelo had 29 points, 19 rebounds and 17 assists, giving both Ball brothers triple doubles.
LiAngelo Ball made his Los Angeles debut!
Gelo: 53 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST
Melo: 29 PTS, 19 AST, 17 REBVIDEO: https://t.co/2Le50qdrQh pic.twitter.com/hgru8yP5gF
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 13, 2018
It’s hard to take these numbers too seriously given the level of competition — even LiAngelo said it was a step back. It’s hard to believe that NBA scouts will put much stock in it, either.
If his father didn’t pull him out of high school to sign with an agent, LaMelo, 16, who was one of the top high school prospects in the country, would be getting ready for his senior year and prepping for what would have likely been a great college career at UCLA.
And if his father had not pulled him out of school after he was suspended by UCLA for shoplifting on a team trip to China last fall, LiAngelo would now be getting ready to play for the Bruins this upcoming season. Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, who were also arrested with LiAngelo in China, have served their one-year suspensions and will play this year.
Now the Ball brothers are playing before sparse crowds in their father’s JBA, and their road to the NBA got a lot tougher.
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