More than 100k people watch LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball play an exhibition game in a foreign country. If you think the Ball brand is slowing down, you are wrong.
Many people say that Lonzo, LaMelo, and LiAngelo are being exploited by the father LaVar, but if you listen to the kids, that is the farthest thing from the truth.
Check out a few of the interview snippets from SI from LaMelo and LiAngelo speaking on the decision to go to Lithuania.
Jared Zwerling: Tell me your first reaction when you heard you were coming to Lithuania.
LaMelo Ball: “I heard it was real far away, just living-wise. I heard a lot of people didn’t speak English and it was real cold. But then when we got here, actually a lot of people did speak English and it wasn’t as cold as we expected. And then basketball-wise, I just know I would come here to play basketball, and that’s pretty much it.”
LiAngelo Ball: “Oh, it was exciting. I knew I was coming to play, so that was just exciting for me. The only thing different is the language and the food—that’s it—and the weather probably.”
JZ: What’s been nice with how the country has welcomed you?
LaMelo: “It was real nice of them. The first night we got here, they gave us dinner and stuff. They showed us the hotel and all that to live in, and stuff like that. It was real nice of them.”
LiAngelo: “They seemed real excited for us to be here, like there was a lot of people at the airport and stuff when we landed. And it just feels welcoming for us to see.”
JZ: Off the court, how do you think you’ll spend your off days? It’s such a different lifestyle than Los Angeles.
LaMelo: “Usually just if it’s not basketball, we’re probably in the room just watching movies or Netlifx, or something like that—just kicking back. On Netflix, actually I found this one thing called Trollhunters and now I’m just watching [The] Flash.”
LiAngelo: “It doesn’t bother me because me and Melo are together, so that’s cool. We’re just here to play basketball. We didn’t come for nothing else, so that’s cool.”
JZ: What’s the biggest thing do you think you’ll miss about being in high school and college?
LaMelo: “[Laughs] Not really nothing. Just my friends and stuff like that.”
LiAngelo: “Nah, I’m good right now. I like where I’m at right now.”
JZ: Your parents are planning to stay out here for six weeks or more. What does that strong support mean to you?
LaMelo: “It’s great. You know you’ve got support, and it’s been with me my whole life, so that’s real nice.”
LiAngelo: “It’s just good to know that your family’s got your back, so it’s going to be cool having them out here, and just knowing that they’re here to watch us and stuff and supporting us. It’s always good.”
JZ: What’s the advice from your parents?
LaMelo: “Basketball-wise, you just go out there and play. It’s all on you.”
LiAngelo: “They said when we come here, just play our game. Like don’t be nervous or nothing—just do what you love to do. You’re here to play basketball.”
These do not sound like kids who are being held hostage. These are famous LA kids who were bigger than the schools they were at and can generate their own revenue without being exploited by high school and the NCAA.
They have a reality show, they have their family and they are two of the most popular teens in the world right now, so don’t try to pretend LaVar is a bad father because you don’t like what he says about Luke Walton. That is weak sauce.