'You sound like a f***ing idiot. You're going to jail for that s***': The moment furious LaVar Ball confronted his son LiAngelo over shoplifting at a Chinese mall

  • LiAngelo Ball and two UCLA teammates were caught and later admitted to stealing designer sunglasses during a team trip to Shanghai in November
  • The three were force to stay at the team hotel in Hangzhou for over a week before the Chinese government allowed them to return to the United States
  • President Donald Trump claimed to intervene on their behalf by speaking with Chinese president Xi Jinping while visiting the country that month 
  • LaVar Ball never acknowledged Trump's role in LiAngelo's return and publicly dismissed the charges against his son as 'not a big deal'
  • After all three were suspended indefinitely at UCLA, LaVar pulled LiAngelo out of school so he and younger  brother LaMelo could play professionally in Lithuania
  • Older brother Lonzo Ball is the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers 

Although he once dismissed the shoplifting charges against his son as 'not a big deal,' LaVar Ball clearly thought LiAngelo Ball was in danger of going to a Chinese prison after the 19-year-old was caught and later admitted to stealing designer sunglasses with two UCLA teammates during a team trip to Shanghai in November.

'You going to jail for that s***,' an angry LaVar told LiAngelo in the days following the arrest, as revealed this month in their Facebook show, 'Ball in the Family.'

Publicly LaVar had seemed unworried about the charges facing LiAngelo, who has since dropped out of UCLA and now plays professionally with younger brother LaMelo, 16, in Lithuania.

The elder Ball was dismissive of reports that LiAngelo could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, and after President Donald Trump claimed he spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to secure the release of the three UCLA freshmen, LaVar refused to show any gratitude.

Trump responded in a series of tweets, at one point declaring he should have 'left [the three UCLA players] in jail!' Later he referred to LaVar as an 'ungrateful fool.' 

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LaVar questioned why LiAngelo would want to steal sunglasses that he could afford anyway

LaVar questioned why LiAngelo would want to steal sunglasses that he could afford anyway

LiAngelo, sitting in his hotel in Hangzhou after being arrested for shoplifting, didn't have a good answer and ultimately admitted that he just 'liked how they looked' 

LiAngelo, sitting in his hotel in Hangzhou after being arrested for shoplifting, didn't have a good answer and ultimately admitted that he just 'liked how they looked' 

LaVar felt that LiAngelo needed to show the Chinese police that he was remorseful 

LaVar felt that LiAngelo needed to show the Chinese police that he was remorseful 

LaVar first gained media attention in 2016 as his oldest son Lonzo was starring at UCLA before being taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second-overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. 

But aside from being known as a loud-mouthed basketball dad, LaVar has stayed in the public eye because of his apparel company, Big Baller Brand, and because of the fallout from LiAngelo's arrest in Hangzhou, where the Bruins stayed in November before opening their season against Georgia Tech.

LiAngelo did not play in that game and was instead confined to his hotel room, which is where he was reprimanded by LaVar.

'Why would you want some glasses, though? With as much money as you got?' asked an incredulous LaVar. 'I ain't going to tell you that all this could have been avoidable, man, but it's on you.'

At a time when LaVar was publicly telling ESPN that LiAngelo was going to 'be fine' and that 'everyone's making it a big deal,' he was privately preparing his son for the possibility of imprisonment.

Although his father didn't, LiAngelo Ball did thank President Donald Trump for helping to secure his release from China 

Although his father didn't, LiAngelo Ball did thank President Donald Trump for helping to secure his release from China 

The best bet, as LaVar and his business partner explained to LiAngelo in the clip, was for the admitted shoplifter to show remorse during an interview with Chinese police and to explain that he was only guilty of a momentary lapse in judgement.

The problem, as LaVar saw it, was that LiAngelo's nonchalant attitude gave a different impression.

'Was it you saying "I like these m************, I'm gone?"' LaVar asked. 'Or were you easily influenced by somebody else?'

'I don't know what to tell you,' LiAngelo said solemnly, adding, 'I just liked how they looked.'

As LaVar saw it, that was the exact wrong answer.

'You sound like a f****** idiot,' LaVar replied. 'I… I… I stole them because I liked them.

'You going to jail for that s***.'

LiAngelo and his now-former teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill arrived back in the United States on November 14 before thanking Trump publicly at a press conference the following day. 

'I would like to thank President Trump and the United States government for the help that they've provided as well,' LiAngelo said, echoing similar statements from Hill and Riley. 

(From left) Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, mother Tina Ball, father LaVar Ball, and LiAngelo Ball attend Melo Ball's 16th Birthday on September 2. LiAngelo and LaMelo play professionally in Lithuania while Lonzo is the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers

(From left) Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, mother Tina Ball, father LaVar Ball, and LiAngelo Ball attend Melo Ball's 16th Birthday on September 2. LiAngelo and LaMelo play professionally in Lithuania while Lonzo is the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers

'This does not define who I am. My family raised me better than that and I am going to make myself a better person from here on out,' he added.

'I'm sorry for stealing from the stores in China,' Ball continued. 'I've learned my lesson from this big mistake and I'm a hundred percent sure I'll never make a mistake like this again. It's going to make a better person from here on out.'

LaVar has stated that he hopes to see all of his sons playing for the Lakers in 2020, but that might be too much to ask.   

LiAngelo Ball of Vytautas Prienai in action during the match between Vytautas Prienai and Zalgiris Kauno on January 9

LiAngelo Ball of Vytautas Prienai in action during the match between Vytautas Prienai and Zalgiris Kauno on January 9

Considered the lowest-rated recruit of UCLA's freshman class, the 6ft5 LiAngelo was given three out of five stars on ESPN's college basketball recruiting page, which criticized his lack of lateral quickness and overall defense.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, LiAngelo was said to have 'no chance' at being drafted in the June NBA Draft, and 'that was true before his shoplifting incident in China.'

'He's not on any of our scouting lists — even the extended lists,' one NBA general manager told Wojnarowski.

LaMelo's NCAA eligibility was already uncertain after LaVar decided to make a signature shoe for his youngest son with Big Baller Brand. The NCAA forbids players from signing endorsement deals and could have intervened if LaMelo ever attempted to play for the Bruins.

LaVar, however, has put the issue of LaMelo's eligibility to rest.

'He's not going to play college basketball,' LaVar told ESPN of LaMelo.

Prienu Vytautas, the Ball brothers' new team, plays in the Baltic League and is located in a small town of around 10,000 people in Southern Lithuania. LiAngelo and LaVar combined for 29 points in their debut on Tuesday - a victory for Vytautas. 

LaMelo Ball (No. 1), LiAngelo Ball (No. 3) and their father LaVar Ball (far right) attend a press conference in Prienai, Lithuania, where they play for Vytautas, a pro basketeball team 

LaMelo Ball (No. 1), LiAngelo Ball (No. 3) and their father LaVar Ball (far right) attend a press conference in Prienai, Lithuania, where they play for Vytautas, a pro basketeball team 

LaVar Ball talks to journalists upon his arrival with his sons at Vilnius airport in Lithuania 

LaVar Ball talks to journalists upon his arrival with his sons at Vilnius airport in Lithuania 

LiAngelo Ball poses with fans upon his arrival at Vilnius airport in Lithuania

LiAngelo Ball poses with fans upon his arrival at Vilnius airport in Lithuania

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