LaVar Ball and President Trump Beef Over LiAngelo's Release From China

We’re not even a third of the way into the new NBA season and LaVar Ball, father of LA Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, has already garnered a reputation for being a divisive figure — he gave further credence to that reputation by firing off at President Trump during an ESPN interview today.

Mere days after LiAngelo Ball and his two UCLA teammates held a conference to apologize for their unlawful actions in China and to thank Donald Trump for apparently negotiating on their behalf, LaVar Ball has questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s involvement asking, “what was he over there for? Don’t tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out.”

President Trump clapped back in prompt fashion stating: “[...] LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!” While it’s unlikely the role President Trump played in the return of the UCLA players will ever become clear, it’s certain that LaVar Ball’s middle son broke the law in China.

Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017

In other NBA-related news, Carmelo Anthony discusses OKC and Foot Locker’s “Week of Greatness.”