(From left to right: LiAngelo, Lavar, Lonzo, LeMelo)
But there is a third son, LiAngelo, who often gets left out when talking about the family. Lonzo and LaMelo were both five star recruits in high school, destined to star at UCLA before heading off to the NBA draft. The plan was to play for the NBA's glamour franchise, the LA Lakers and promote their own brand, the Big Baller Brand. LaVar stole headlines making wild predictions about the future for his sons only to speak some of them into existence. He has been on every sports talk show imaginable and every news station has done some sort of segment on him.
(photo from maxpreps)
LiAngelo on the other hand gets none of the sporting attention. The only time he has ever made the headlines is for getting caught shoplifting in China along with some of his UCLA teammates. This is because LiAngelo is the forgotten player in the family. Only a three star recruit, he was never going to be a college star and had little to no chance of ever playing an NBA game. Scouts have been quoted saying he was not even on their radar.
Now though, LiAngelo has dropped out of UCLA and signed with a professional team in Lithuania along with his brother LaMelo. LiAngelo has actually played pretty well since coming over too, despite drawing less of the attention than either of his brothers or his dad. Look for him to continue to continue to improve his game and lead this Lithuanian team while maintaining his status as the third Ball brother and flying (relatively speaking) under the radar. What do you think of the way the family has handled their fame and LaMelo and LiAngelo's switch to Lithuania?
First, I don't believe you can really look too far into how LiAngelo is playing in the Lithuania league considering the league is somewhat laughable and he isn't playing against any real competition. As for the Ball family and the switch to Lithuania? I can't stand it. I originally had no problem with Lava and the BBB at first, I actually liked how Lavar was going against the grain and had the idea that other people shouldn't be making money off their name when they can promote their brand themselves. I began to have a problem this past winter when Lavar took things too far and began to ruin his two youngest kids childhood and upbringing. They both were going to be playing at UCLA, one of the best schools in the country where they would be getting some of the finest education in the world and he took that away from them to go play in Lithuania? The youngest, LaMelo is only a junior in high school and now wont get to have a high school diploma. At some point you have to be realistic. LiAngelo will never play in the NBA so why not let him have four years at UCLA and get a degree from one of the best schools in the country. As for LaMelo it's too early to tell, but the best thing for him and his development would have been to finish school and go to a top college program and develop at one of the highest levels.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, Lavar has prioritized himself and the brand over the well-being of his children. I'm not sure whether it is out of naivety or intentional, but he has stunted their growth as basketball players, put an unnecessary spotlight on them, and likely prevented them from achieving one of the most valuable things in life: a college degree. At what point does the responsibility fall to the kids to stand up to him and say "no more". Obviously having a passionate involved father is great, but at some point kids need to develop into themselves and become independent and start making their own decisions; I just hope LaMelo and LiAngelo do so soon.
Delete-Brian
Tim, I disagree that you cannot read anything into how LiAngelo is playing in the Lithuanian league. Obviously it is nowhere near the level of competition of the NBA or even the Euro league, however, the players are all grown men, significantly older than LiAngelo, with significantly more experience. Having said that, I do agree that he will never play in the NBA, and that Lavar is making a mistake bringing his kids to Lithuania. At some point it has begun to feel as though he is doing everything for the publicity rather than what is best for his sons, and that's a shame. I have no idea how much say LiAngelo and LaMelo had in the matter but if the decision was purely made by LaVar, then I believe it was a huge mistake to deprive his sons of the experience and exposure of playing for a high profile, well respected college in the United States. Hopefully, it will have little impact on LaMelo's ability to go to the NBA, but it will be interesting to follow his progress.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, to deprive his kids of a top-tier education in my opinion is his worst mistake. LiAngelo likely won't make the NBA and it's hard to say with LaMelo, but regardless, having a college diploma to fall back on whether they don't make the league or after their careers are over would greatly improve their chances of living successful lives. Most parent's goal is to get their kids to college and to literally do the exact opposite, is what makes me really dislike Lavar.
Delete-Brian
Eric, I agree with your point that LiAngelo playing against full grown men significantly older then him is a valuable experience and will help his game. I also don't see him making it to the NBA either. As far as the move to Lithuania, I respect LaVar for wanting to do his own thing and give his sons a unique experience, however I think he is crazy for taking them out of UCLA. No one can argue that LaVar doesn't want the best for his kids, and I think he truly believed that this was LiAngelo's best shot at getting into the NBA, but I don't agree with the move. I also think that his presence in the media takes a lot of his credibility away because people view him as the crazy dad on the sidelines and don't really look past it.
ReplyDeleteI disagree actually, in my opinion either Lavar only wants what's best for their brand or he is delusional about what is best for his kids. There is no way that his comments about Luke Walton or Lonzo being better than Lebron have made Lonzo's rookie year any easier, and instead were made to either feed his ego or his brand. Regardless, his decisions have severely inhibited not only the careers of his children, but also their life prospects and as a result I believe it's time they stand up to him.
Delete-Brian
HANNAH HENRY: The Ball family has handled their fame in a very arrogant way. I think that Lavar Ball dictates much of the entire family's decisions and is choosing the path that his sons take, which is very unfortunate. LiAngelo and Lamelo switching to the Lithuanian league is seemed to have mainly been Lavar's decision. LiAngelo had the opportunity to go to a highly respectable college but instead chose to go to another league, which I think was a very poor decision. The family fame is very dangerous because it makes the Ball's believe that they have a guaranteed opportunity in the NBA no matter what choices they make. It would benefit LiAngelo to fly under the radar and not have a strong media presence because I do believe that him being in the spot light with his family will only harm his reputation and chances of going to the NBA.
ReplyDeleteI agree, at this point it seems as though Lavar is only harming his children's future. Although we don't know if it's out of love or to serve his own ego, I think it's past time his kids stood up to him.
Delete-Brian