Is LiAngelo Ball New Zealand Bound?

LaMelo Ball lit the NBL up during his one season as a member of the Illawarra Hawks. Now, there’s talks his older brother, LiAngelo, could turn out for the New Zealand Breakers in NBL24.

LiAngelo, 24, most recently turned out for the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA G-League, and earned multiple Summer League contracts with the Charlotte Hornets in 2021.

LiAngelo’s father, LaVar, appeared on radio in New Zealand stating his son could pursue any NBL opportunities that come his way.

“This ain’t even heard of in the States,” he said on Mai Morning Crew. “My son, LiAngelo Ball, wants to play for the New Zealand Breakers.

“I’m trying to let y’all know – it’s finna (sic) go wild. Simon (Edwards), the GM, get in touch with the Big Baller.

“I’m bringing another Ball boy to the NBL.”

LaMelo’s Rookie of the Year season in the NBL has entered the spotlight again, after talks that Bronny James could elect to play professionally outside the United States, as opposed to playing college basketball.

LaMelo Ball won the NBL Rookie of the Year Award in 2020, in a season that also featured current Detroit guard RJ Hampton as a Next Star.

LaVar believes James should follow in the footsteps of his son, as playing in a professional league will allow him to focus more on building the foundation for a strong basketball career.

“It’s better over here,” Ball told The Sporting News. “Why? Because you’re playing against grown men and you’re getting paid.

“If you want to play basketball and you (sic) really that dude, why am I sitting in a class trying to pass a chemistry test?

“I want to wake up, go practice, go back to sleep, go practice, have a game, practice. That’s all I want to do.”

Six-time NBL Defensive Player of the Year Damian Martin echoed the sentiments of Ball and believes there’s strong advantages for young players in the spotlight – like James – beginning their professional careers outside the United States.

“Every single game he would play at college would be picked apart,” Martin said on SEN of James. “Any mistakes he makes would be on the back page.

“There’s validity to him coming out to Australia and playing against men in a style that’s more like the NBA as opposed to college.

“What LaMelo Ball did to this league I consider to be among the most important things to the league’s growth in the past five or six years, and Bronny would have the same impact.”