LiAngelo Ball, the brother of NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, talked about the time he and two others UCLA players were arrested in China after being accused of stealing designer sunglasses in 2017.
Ball, 26, went to a Louis Vuitton store next to the team’s hotel in Hangzhou and picked up a pair of sunglasses during a trip as a member of the UCLA men’s basketball team.
Ball reflected on the incident during a recent appearance on “Unapologetic Angel” with Angel Reese.
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Charlotte Hornets guard LiAngelo Ball before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. (Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports)
“I knew it was wrong. I was 18, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, just making quick decisions and doing stupid things…, so I don’t know how to explain it. Everyone wants me to this long story come.” – story. Like, I don’t know how to explain it,” Ball said.
“I did what I did, and I knew it was wrong, and that was that. It’s been seven, eight years. I haven’t had any problems since.’
Ball said he knew immediately he had made a mistake.
“I couldn’t think of anything other than, I knew s… was going south. I don’t know, right as I left the store I was like, ‘Damn.’ I told (my teammates), ‘There, yeah, we’re done,'” Ball said.
“I knew it was… wrong, bro.”
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Charlotte Hornets forward LiAngelo Ball during an NBA Summer League game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Cox Pavilion. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports)
President Trump has personally asked Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, to resolve the matter involving Ball and his two teammates, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, Fox News reported at the time.
“To the three basketball players from UCLA, I say: You’re welcome, go out and thank President Xi Jinping of China for…
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“…your release is possible and: HAVE A GREAT LIFE! Be careful, there are many pitfalls on life’s long and winding road!” Trump wrote in separate social media posts in 2017.
After his career at UCLA, Ball was not selected to the 2018 NBA Draft. Ball played abroad in the Lithuanian Basketball League in 2018 instead of going to the NBA.
He played with the Los Angeles Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association, a league founded by his father, Lavar Ball.
Charlotte Hornets forward LiAngelo Ball dribbles during an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls at Thomas & Mack Center. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports)
Ball then spent time in the NBA G-League from 2021-2023. Ball signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Detroit Pistons in 2020, but was disbanded shortly after signing.
The Charlotte Hornets signed him in 2021 and 2022, but he was waived shortly after being signed both times. Ball has not appeared in a regular season NBA game.
Ball’s brothers, LaMelo and Lonzo, are both in the NBA. LaMelo plays for the Charlotte Hornets and Lonzo plays for the Chicago Bulls.
Fox News’ Brooke Singerman contributed to this report.
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