Why Lithuania makes sense for LaVar Ball and his youngest boys
Did you really expect LaVar Ball and his kids to continue their commitments to UCLA?
Last week, it broke that LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball would forgo UCLA to sign with their older brother's agent. The family of Lakers guard Lonzo Ball doubled down by announcing that the teens would play professionally for Lithuanian club Prienu Vytautas.
Popular opinion immediately turned on the Ball's infamous father LaVar Ball. You can talk about the Ball's brand decisions and their NBA prospects but what did you expect the popular basketball family to do once LiAngelo received an indefinite suspension by UCLA due to an incident where he and some players stole doom goods from Chinese stores?
LaVar already pulled his youngest child out of a public institution of learning after he disagreed with the administrator and head coach there. Did you expect LaVar to let Gelo stay at UCLA when he's not playing basketball? This is especially after LaVar said he thought the University was being too hard on his kid who made a mistake? Did you expect LaVar to allow his youngest son to keep us commitment to UCLA after his middle brother was suspended by the same school?
Nonetheless, I'm a buyer into the Ball hype and I'm a fan of the trailblazing moves they've made as a family. I defended LaVar Ball when he pulled LaMelo out of public school. Full disclosure, I grew up a few miles from the same place as the three Ball brothers and I've followed them for a few years. Therefore, this move makes sense to me.
However, here are five reasons the Balls leaving UCLA should make sense to everyone.
NCAA
LiAngelo and LaMelo are both opting out of playing college basketball by signing with an agent. This shouldn't be a surprise. Both players were on the same track as their older brother which including playing one season of college before heading to the pros. That timeline is accelerated after Gelo's punishment and Melo's new status as a basketball prodigy.
Let's not pretend like actors and geniuses don't skip high school and college all the time. These basketball players are doing the same. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant didn't play college ball. Yes, the rules were different but we have seen players like Brandon Jennings and Emmanuel Mudiay opt for a year overseas instead of the NCAA.
Of course, everyone would love a free ride to a prestigious university like UCLA. The two youngest Ball Brothers are turning down a tremendous opportunity to learn and grow. However, both boys were great students in high school and they should have plenty of opportunities to get their degree at some point during their lives.
Additionally, a college campus is not always the best place for an athlete focused on their craft. There are a ton of distractions and this is especially true for Gelo who could've been heckled for the embarrassment he brought to the school. Even UCLA alum and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said he was embarrassed byGelo's incident.
"It stained part of my legacy." — @kaj33 reflects on the UCLA players' trip to China and shoplifting arrest pic.twitter.com/TVJ6I0y9rg
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 22, 2017
Plus, the NCAA is going through their own college basketball scandal. Do not pretend that it is not enjoyable to see the Ball family completely diss the institution of the NCAA the same way they told show companies to get lost with the establishment of the “Big Baller Brand.”
NBA Stock
It is no secret the both LiAngelo and LaMelo are long shots at the NBA. LaMelo was a top-20 player in his class and LiAngelo is only a three-star recruit who was not even slated to start for the Bruins. These ratings fluctuate all the time and there isn't necessarily a direct correlation between recruitment success and NBA success.
Ball will struggle to find a serious job playing pro basketball, including the G-League. @Mike_Schmitz projected him in high school as a small-ball stretch 4-man at the mid-major college level. Would make sense for Ball to find a scholarship at a lower level and stay in school.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 4, 2017
Stil, a recent report said that LiAngelo wasn't even on NBA teams' extended draft boards. That may be the case but now we are closer to knowing if either player is good enough to play professionally. Instead of waiting five years to see LaVar's prophecies come to life, we only need three to see his three boys potentially land in the NBA.
Both will have more opportunities to show their skills versus grown men. They will get a taste of the professional life and it will definitely be a trial by fire.
Not to mention, the novelty of this entire situation could intrigue teams and fanbases in the NBA. It could start a new wave of high school and college players ditching the NCAA. Players like Metta World Peace and Jonas Valanciunas are applauding the move.
Otherwise, LaVar himself has gone on record saying it is hard to get a kid into the NBA and it is even harder to get three. Gelo might be the odd one out even by LaVar's standards. Hence, the Balls are doubling down on their long-shot to the NBA. These are the gambles that popularized the brothers in the first place. It could pay off especially if the Lithuanian coach compares to LaVar Ball like rumors suggest.
Individual Growth
Beyond on-court growth, Gelo and Melo Ball can grow as men from this entire experience. Gelo should know that he can not afford to make any more child mistakes. He can no longer call out for attention. If he wanted more spotlight, he got it.
Melo knows the entire basketball world is looking at him now. Being LaVar's son and Lonzo's brother was hard enough but now Melo is adding 16-year-old basketball pro to his resume. Many will want to see him succeed while others will root for his failure.
Both Gelo and Melo are public figures giving up what little bit of childhood they had left. Now, they will be playing basketball in a foreign country. They will be on the road, seeing the world as well as dealing with language and cultural barriers. Their father downplayed the struggles via TMZ but it should be interesting to see how the kids develop from this.
At the very least, this is an experience they will never forget. They are doubling-down on their dreams which is something everyone can relate to. They're young enough that they can easily recover if this experience does not work out.
Whether they are successes or failures abroad, they will have plenty of room for personal growth. Either way, they are going to learn about the professional basketball world which will help them be better behind the scenes people for the, “Big Baller Brand.”
The Brand
Speaking of the triple-B brand, there is a reason why all three brothers have a tremendous social media following. Each is likable for their own reasons but the brand is bigger than them. There is a reason why even their girlfriends and security guards are racking up followers too.
The “Big Baller Brand” is bigger than LaVar's hot takes, their Facebook show, Zo on the Lakers, Gelo and Melo playing overseas or the championship the three Ball Brothers won at Chino Hills. It's a brand that is selling out pop-shops and selling signature shoes at three times the market price of other sneakers.
Hate them or love them, America is fascinated by everything this family does and says. Now, that platform is elevated on the global scene. “Ball in the Family” and “Big Baller Brands” hit the road which means there is an emerging sports brand with direct exposure to Lithuania. Is there precedent for that kind of exposure?
It appears locals are buying into the hype too.
This LKL TV commentator felt like @Lavarbigballer, @MELOD1P and @LiAngeloBall needed a special welcome to Lithuania and burst into song at the beginning of the broadcast of today's Vytautas game.
I am dying, call an ambulance. 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/EnDNAwVYN1
— Simonas Baranauskas (@simasbar) December 12, 2017
Again, Melo and Gelo may not last in Lithuania as their contracts could be void after a month, per SB Nation. At least they're building a foundation of fans abroad. They are giving Lithuania a taste of the triple-B's which can only be good for their independent brand.
Family
You can not talk about the Ball brand without talking about the family. In every episode of “Ball in the Family,” basketball appears to be a family affair. That is the part that does not add up about LiAngelo and LaMelo playing basketball abroad.
LaVar Ball said it is not about the money but he wants to see his two boys play together again. That is great but what about the rest of the family. Shouldn't the boys be home supporting their brother as he struggles to adapt to the NBA or their mother as she continues to recover from a stroke? How will they do being away from the girlfriends, friends, and family who have constantly seen them play over the years?
They have said that this was a decision they made as a family, Lonzo included. No one knows that is the case until these boys are old enough to say if they really pursued their dream or just helped out the family business. Or worse, they chased Dad's dream.
Thus, this will be a real test for the family because they are opting for an even bigger target on their back. Regardless of the on-court success, this move makes sense for the family's brand, business, morals and aspirations. Rather or not that aligns with the two boys' aspirations of playing professional basketball is to be determined. Until then, they're trusting their dad's process.
Future
Still, the Ball family did not have much choice but to test the waters of professional basketball abroad. Even if the two youngest Balls never make the NBA, this move could still be in the best interest of them as people and businessmen.
Ultimately, the success of LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball joining a professional team in Lithuania will only be judged by them and the family. Everyone can say what they would do but the Balls are already in some unprecedented company. Let's not pretend any of us saw the Ball phenomenon getting this far. Therefore, only the two boys uprooting their lives and sacrificing their childhoods can say if the move was a hit or miss.
The Boys are scheduled to land in Lithuania on Jan. 4 with their first game potentially coming Jan. 6.
Follow Us
Subscribe