LaVar Ball once vowed that all three of his sons would play in the NBA. It’s finally happening.
What We Know:
- LiAngelo Ball has signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The deal is non-guaranteed, so LiAngelo will have to earn his roster spot and could be cut from the team at any time, but the famous Ball family has finally gotten all three brothers into the league.
- The Ball brothers gained notoriety on Instagram when they were in high school. They also gained fame because of their father LaVar, who became a media sensation for his boisterous and overconfident personality.
- LaVar has attracted attention for his sons by making media appearances, starting the Big Baller Brand for apparel and merchandise, having them play overseas and in his own Junior Basketball Association, and producing a reality TV series about his family called Ball in the Family. He has loudly sung the praises of his kids’ basketball skills and, in his own words, spoken this into existence.
- Lonzo, the oldest brother, was a top high school and college prospect. He was selected 2nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He was sent to the Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade. He hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of a top draft pick, but he has carved out a solid role for himself as a player with great court vision and perimeter defense.
- LaMelo, the youngest brother, was recently selected 3rd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Similar to Lonzo, he is seen as a high-level playmaker. His selection marked the first time that two brothers were both selected in the top 5 of their respective draft classes.
- LiAngelo’s path to the NBA was the most farfetched of the trio. LiAngelo was never a highly-touted prospect like his brothers and to make things worse, he was arrested in college for shoplifting in China. After that scandal, LaVar pulled both LiAngelo and LaMelo out of school and took them overseas, vowing to have them join Lonzo in the NBA while circumventing the NCAA system.
- LaMelo’s draft stock continued to rise through overseas play as he impressed scouts in Lithuania and Australia, but LiAngelo continued to struggle to find his way to the NBA. He went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft and was not signed by any teams. He eventually signed with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League in 2019. Unfortunately, he did not play a single game as the G League season was cancelled due to Covid-19.
- With LiAngelo joining the Pistons and LaMelo joining the Hornets this season, the Ball brothers join the short list of three or more brothers to play in the NBA at the same time. In just the 2019-2020 season, Jrue, Justin, and Aaron Holiday became the first trio of brothers to play in an NBA game at the same time.
Because he made good on his word and got all three of his sons into the NBA, many took to Twitter to praise LaVar Ball for speaking it into existence. LaVar also tweeted how proud he is of his boys.
PROUD‼️ We’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/WmcCOAsUot
— Lavar Ball (@Lavarbigballer) December 3, 2020
I think it’s time for EVERYBODY including myself to give Lavar Ball is Damn Flowers right now. A lot people doubted him and talked down on how he did things with his children and my God did he prove the doubters wrong!!! #Respect
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 2, 2020
How Lavar Ball looking at the haters pic.twitter.com/n9nSMKZbmt
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) December 2, 2020
