LiAngelo Ball says he’s open to all pro opportunities
OAKLAND >> LiAngelo Ball’s confidence never wavered, no matter the topic.
He touted how he represents a so-called “3-and-D” player who can hit outside shots and defend with consistency. He downplayed his dad’s outspokenness and stressed that does not reflect his own views. He dismissed his shoplifting incident in China during his short time at UCLA, calling it a “closed chapter” that NBA teams apparently have not raised.
But when it comes to Ball actually being selected in the NBA draft on Thursday? Ball still maintained confidence, while conceding the ball is not in his court.
“I don’t know what teams are looking at me right now,” Ball said Friday after working out for the Warriors at their practice facility. “But I’m looking forward to the draft and seeing what lies ahead of me.”
It appears unlikely the Warriors would select Ball with their No. 28 pick.
Most NBA mock drafts do not project Ball to be selected. The Warriors have said they want to play their No. 28 selection significant
rotation minutes. And the Warriors are mulling various options possibly to upgrade their wing or center positions. The Warriors’ private pre-draft workout Friday, which consisted of agility and shooting drills, also included Bucknell center Nana Foulland, West Virginia shooting guard Daxter Miles Jr., Chicago-Illinois center Tai Odaise, Baylor forward Nuni Omot and Michigan forward Duncan Robinson.
So why would the Warriors host a workout for Ball? They want to perform due diligence. They have bought late draft picks, including the 38th selection
in consecutive years that secured Patrick McCaw (2016) and Jordan Bell (2017). They also will field a summer league roster in Sacramento (July 2-5) and Las Vegas (July 6-17).
“I feel pretty good going into the draft. I feel like I’m going to get drafted,” Ball said. “I feel like I can produce for a team. But if I don’t, I’ll go to the GLeague, be a free agent or join a summer-league team.”
Ball worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers last month, a natural starting point considering they drafted his brother, Lonzo, No. 2 overall last year. Ball also plans to work out with the Los Angeles Clippers and has also interviewed with Phoenix and Oklahoma City. Ball previously planned to work out with the Warriors on June 10 before rescheduling it for Friday.
Lonzo has stressed to his younger brother the importance of making shots, showing effort and keeping endurance nearly a year after having conditioning issues during his first workout with the Lakers. LiAngelo has also run hills and lifted weights near his family’s residence in Chino Hills, scrimmaged in Los Angeles, improved his ball handling and showed off his outside shooting.
“I feel like I’m ready. I feel like I’m training for this since a young age,” said Ball, 19. “It’s something I always wanted to do. When the time comes, I’ll be ready for it.”
Ball maintained he feels ready despite several question marks swirling around him.
Although he called the situation a “learning experience,” Ball downplayed getting arrested along with former UCLA teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill for shoplifting sunglasses during the team’s preseason trip to Hangzhou, China. Ball added teams have not inquired much about the incident, either.
“That’s a closed chapter in my book. I don’t get too much slack on that,” Ball said. “I’m just looking forward to the draft. I just keep moving forward.”
Ball sounded just as unconcerned about his father, LaVar, being outspoken about his children. Though the Lakers initially considered LaVar’s public comment as marketing ploys for his so-called “Big Baller Brand,” he later put the team in a precarious position when he critiqued Lonzo’s teammates and Lakers coach Luke Walton. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, a close friend of Walton, publicly critiqued LaVar’s outspokenness and likened him to a “Kardashian of the NBA.”
“I get questions about my dad. But like I tell everybody, that’s him,” LiAngelo said of LaVar, who was not at his son’s workout. “If you want to talk to him about what he says, you could. It don’t really bother me. I’m my own dude.”
Ball also argued he became his own man partly because he played last season professionally overseas instead of in college. On Dec. 4, Ball withdrew from UCLA to play for Vyautas Prienu, a pro team in Lithuania. There, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Ball averaged 12.6 points while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range in 21.2 minutes through 14 games.
Would Ball have benefitted if he stayed at UCLA?
“I think it wouldn’t have been where I’m at right now. Going overseas helped me more, in my opinion,” Ball said. “I didn’t get the type of playing time that I thought I would get (at UCLA). When I went overseas, I was able to develop better.”
Ball said some of the benefits included playing against older and more physical players, playing off screens and improving his shooting. More importantly, Ball said the overseas experience forced him to prioritize basketball more than if he had stayed in college.
“It’s just how serious the game is out there. If you’re not in top peak, they could fire you the next day. They won’t even let you know. They’ll just tell you that you’re fired,” Ball said. “Every game and every practice, you have to come out and play your hardest like it’s your last game. I think I just picked up going into the game more focused. It’s a lifestyle.”