The NBA G League will feature LiAngelo Ball when its season officially gets underway in the Orlando bubble, where games will begin on February 8.
Ball was last seen with the Detroit Pistons on a non-guaranteed contract, but was waived in training camp before even appearing in a preseason contest.
LiAngelo Ball to join NBA G League Orlando Bubble
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the news on Ball’s latest stop in his pro basketball career, which has been rather underwhelming to date.
The middle brother of NBA lottery picks Lonzo (eldest) and LaMelo (youngest), it’s fair to say LiAngelo hasn’t found nearly the same success as his siblings. A short-lived stint at UCLA for LiAngelo Ball — during which he was indefinitely suspended — preceded his going undrafted in the NBA and several odd stops along the way.
LiAngelo Ball stats, career summary and NBA G League future
Ball played for Prienai in the Lithuanian Basketball League with his younger brother, averaging 12.6 points on 41.5% shooting from 3-point range. Then, he signed with the Los Angeles Ballers in 2018, which was part of the Junior Basketball Association, founded by Ball’s father, LaVar. The was short-lived league that lasted one season.
After it was reported Ball would be undergoing ankle surgery in July 2019, it’d be a while before his next professional opportunity rolled around. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and canceled the most recent G League season, Ball signed with the Thunder’s affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.
Despite the fact that the Pistons clearly look like the worst team in the NBA this season, Ball couldn’t make it out of training camp with them.
All these twists and turns suggest Ball’s career is barely a thing, propped up by the Big Baller Brand and the far superior play of his brothers. Maybe he’ll shock the world, dazzle in the G League and earn his long-awaited shot in the NBA.
LaVar did once say LiAngelo was better than New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson. If that proves to be true, Ball will be a revelation for some lucky NBA franchise somewhere down the road.
Reality suggests that’s not in the cards. In actuality, LiAngelo Ball will be fortunate to crack an NBA G League rotation.
Not being a hater. That’s just the truth based on what we’ve seen to this point.
Per Nets Daily, the NBA G League will open training camps on January 29 before games get underway next month.