LaVar Ball, the outspoken media magnet father of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, has downplayed President Donald Trump’s involvement in facilitating the release of three UCLA basketball freshmen, including his son LiAngelo, after they were held for allegedly shoplifting high-end sunglasses in Hangzhou, China.
LaVar Ball on Donald Trump’s help in UCLA shoplifting episode: ‘Who?’
LiAngelo Ball’s father downplays the U.S. President’s role in freeing the three UCLA freshmen held on suspicion of shoplifting in Hangzhou, China, earlier this month.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
In comments to ESPN’s Arash Markazi, Ball downplayed the drama of the entire situation and Trump’s role in resolving it. From Markazi:
“Who?” Ball told ESPN when asked about Trump’s involvement in the matter. “What was he over there for? Don’t tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out.”
LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill were held in their hotel in Hangzhou for a week after they were caught shoplifting sunglasses from luxury shops near the team’s hotel, arrested, and released on bail. The trio returned to Los Angeles a week later.
President Trump happened to be touring Asia when the Bruins were arrested. He claimed to have raised the matter with Chinese president Xi Jinping before returning to Washington, D.C. The players were released two days after that apparent conversation. The New York Times has reported that White House chief of staff Gen. John Kelly spoke with the players while they were being held and the U.S. State Department was involved in securing their release, as well.
Early the morning after the Bruins were released to return home, Trump took to Twitter to rhetorically ask whether the teenagers would thank the President for his efforts.
The players did thank him later that day in a press conference at UCLA. Markazi and other reporters quoted numerous legal experts who doubted that the players would be held longer than a few weeks at the most.
In addition to downplaying Trump’s involvement, Ball sought to dismiss the huge attention paid to the episode.
“I’m from L.A. I’ve seen a lot worse things happen than a guy taking some glasses,” Ball told Markazi. “My son has built up enough character that one bad decision doesn’t define him.”
The three players have been suspended indefinitely by UCLA basketball. Hill and Riley were top-50 recruits expected to play a major role for the Bruins.
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