LiAngelo Ball has faced adversity and challenges on his journey to the NBA. Ball has put in a lot of time and effort to make his NBA dream come true. This year, he has a realistic opportunity to make a NBA roster for the first time.
Ball received a chance from the Charlotte Hornets organization to play and audition in their Summer League this year. He played well, thanks in large part to some good shooting games and solid defense. Even though there is no guarantee that he will make the Hornets regular season roster, at least he was able to display his talent and get himself observed by the Hornets and other teams around the league in the summer showcase and the upcoming preseason.
It is well known that Ball has two established brothers in the NBA, which leaves everyone wondering if or when he will get his claim to fame.
The path to the NBA was not a traditional one for the middle Ball brother. LiAngelo had a few missteps along the way.
The most talked about incident was Ball getting suspended from UCLA, which resulted in him withdrawing completely. He was caught shoplifting a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses during UCLA’s team trip to China in 2017.
LiAngelo left the Bruins without appearing in any games for the program. According to Ball, the incident shaped him into the player he is today. In an interview with The Athletics’ Shams Charania, Ball spoke about the incident.
“It made me who I am today,” said LiAngelo Ball. “I done dealt with so much. I done heard everything — good and bad. Nothing really bothers me. My skin is thick. When I play today, I just keep that same energy. For sure, people cast judgment. I was young, I don’t look back on that. I just learned from it and kept pushing. I’m not gonna let one decision mess up my whole life.”
In a recent interview, Ball discussed his never-give-up attitude. He also stated that he cannot compare himself to his brothers Lonzo and LeMelo because they have had different journeys to reach the NBA.
“I just listen to my coaches really. I could do whatever they want me to do,” LiAngelo Ball said per Shams Charania of The Athletic. “If they want me to get the ball and score, I could do that. If they want me to run off screens, I could do that. I just make sure I work on everything, so when they do ask me to do something, I’ll be 100 percent and ready to go. I just know I had to stick to my own path. I can’t do what ‘Melo and ‘Zo did because they had different paths. I know I had to stay grounded and stay locked in one spot. Charlotte felt like home.”
In a little over a month, the NBA preseason begins and the Ball brothers (LaMelo and LiAngelo) will get some meaningful minutes on the court together for the Hornets. If he displays good chemistry with his teammates, especially Melo, he will likely get the opportunity he has been waiting for his entire life.
