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Los Angeles Lakers still where LiAngelo Ball wants to be

By Jessica Slate

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 29: Lonzo Ball #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers greets his brother LiAngelo Ball #2 after he completed his NBA Pre-Draft Workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 29: Lonzo Ball #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers greets his brother LiAngelo Ball #2 after he completed his NBA Pre-Draft Workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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On June 21, LiAngelo Ball sat waiting to hear his name called in the 2018 NBA Draft. It was never called, but he has not given up hope on joining his brother on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make LaVar Ball’s dreams come true this offseason. LiAngelo Ball, the younger brother of Lakers’ guard Lonzo Ball, was not selected by the team or signed to play in summer league.

However, this has not deterred LiAngelo’s goals. He still thinks he will still be a Laker down the road. After leaving UCLA in December 2017, he spent a season with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas in the Lithuania Basketball League. Now, he is a part of his father’s development league on the Los Angeles Ballers.

He will be unable to declare for another draft after going undrafted. There are other ways to get to the NBA though. While navigating the LAX airport, TMZ Sports asked if he thought he will still become a Laker. In a short-winded response he declared, “Yeah, I will…Probably later. I think I will.”

With even more confidence, his father LaVar Ball believes Gelo will become NBA stock through the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). Also speaking with TMZ Sports, he says, “[The JBA’s] not even a yellow brick road. It’s a road that he has to take.”

In his JBA debut, Gelo put up a triple-double, with 53 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Marketable numbers for scouting, but it also indicates a need for opposing defense.

LaVar also claims that the JBA is a better alternative to “running hills and just shooting on the machine by yourself.” Gelo has still been grinding on his own, post-and-deleting his workouts on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlWUp8rlRa8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Lakers’ roster is potentially set for the 2018-19 season, so Gelo will likely have to wait until next season to break into the NBA.

Next: Grading The Lakers Free Agency Thus Far and Potential Moves

Basketball fans know of LaVar’s determination though and becoming Lakers’ Team Dad is high on that list. Reminding TMZ Sports, “The bottom line is, I want all three of my boys to play on the Lakers.”

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