LaVar Ball, the father of LaMelo and the now-infamous UCLA basketball rookie LiAngelo Ball, may be about to send his two boys abroad.
Last week, LaVar told ESPN that his sons would play pro basketball overseas but did not disclose a location.
We were pretty sure it would be in this solar system though.
Now, it looks like LaVar may be sending his boys to Lithuania, according to ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, who revealed that the Balls are in “serious discussions” with Lithuanian team Prienu Vytautas.
Story filed to ESPN with @DraftExpress: LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball are in serious discussions to sign professional basketball deals with Lithuanian club Prienu Vytautas. Club plans to decide in next 24-to-48 hours whether to finalize an agreement with the two American teenagers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 11, 2017
Jonathan Givony noted that the Balls won’t skip right to MVP status though.
The Ball brothers are not expected to see major playing time for Prienu Vytautas in the Lithuanian (LKL) league, but could be afforded an opportunity to develop in the Baltic (BBL) League, where the stakes are much lower. The club must decide whether to pull the trigger first. https://t.co/XIihTVnZMD
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 11, 2017
In fact, there’s a chance the brothers may not even get paid for play time.
From what I’m told, salaries for players at this level of competition usually don’t exceed $500 per month in the absolute best case. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Ball brothers ended up playing for free. Certainly not the most glamorous league or part of the world to live in.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 11, 2017
Prienu Vytautas has only had one American player on their roster in the past decade, Brad Tinsley, who departed after a month of action, according to my research. The Balls would likely be faced with a major culture shock in Prienai, a small village of around 10,000 people.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 11, 2017
I don’t know about you guys, but I would watch the hell out of a reality TV show of the Ball brothers in the Lithuanian village, surrounded by non-english speakers, w/LaVar in the stands (potentially mic’d up) watching them in the Baltic League. Has to be the end game here right?
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 11, 2017
I’m right there with Givony on that last thought. Although a lot of people were starting to doubt LiAngelo’s talent, LaMelo recently got yanked from Chino Hills High School to be homeschooled and focus more on his game. He’s ranked #15 across the nation in his prospect class.
Perhaps this apartment is on their house hunting list?
#prienai #mill #lithuania https://t.co/e3KLEfRApl pic.twitter.com/5JahLKUvEz
— Vytautas (@vataipva) May 26, 2017