The 2020-21 NBA season could have been something LaVar Ball would have been proud of. All three of his sons were with NBA teams but based on recent developments he may have to settle for just two.
LiAngelo Ball was the unfortunate casualty after the Detroit Pistons decided to waive him along with some other players after their preseason game against the New York Knicks. The others were Anthony Lamb and Louis King according to James Edwards III of The Athletic. The 22-year-old middle child of LaVar Ball did not see action in the Pistons’ two preseason games.
Ball was the last of the brothers to get an NBA deal. He was handed a one-year non-guaranteed deal last Dec. 2. It appears he failed to live up to the expectations of Pistons head coach Dwane Casey.
Per sources, the #Pistons have waived Anthony Lamb, Louis King and LiAngelo Ball. — James Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) December 14, 2020
The opportunity was seen by most as a way for Ball to possibly get a stint with the Pistons G-League team. He had a previous stint with the Oklahoma City Blue.
Aside from his G-League stints, Ball also suited up for the Los Angeles Ballers in the Junior Basketball Association which was founded by his father LaVar Ball. There is also that stint in the Lithuania Basketball League alongside LaMelo Ball. The youngest of the Ball brothers was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the recent 2020 NBA Draft.
There is still a flicker of hope for Ball this coming season if he is considered by other NBA teams. If not, he will just have to step back once more and work on his game to join his brothers in the pro league.
It is the latest debacle for LiAngelo Ball who went to college at UCLA. That time, things were not so fruitful as well. When the UCLA team went to China, the 22-year-old found himself embroiled in a shoplifting case.
From the start, Ball faced tough odds to crack the Pistons lineup. Detroit took in Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee from the 2020 NBA Draft. In free agency, the signed Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor, Josh Jackson and Wayne Ellington. Also, Jerami Grant, Delon Wright, Dzanan Musa and Rodney McGruder came in via trades.
It will be interesting if the Pistons did just enough to perform well this 2020-21 NBA season. They finished the 2019-20 season with a 20-46 win-loss record and are looking to improve on that this time around.
