I am a huge fan of the NBA, and my favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers. This summer, the Lakers drafted UCLA superstar Lonzo Ball, making him an instant celebrity. The Ball family has produced several basketball stars, and Lonzo’s younger brother, LiAngelo Ball, is set to replace him at UCLA.
After Lonzo was drafted, his family was on cloud nine. His father, LaVar Ball had predicted his son’s success, but his over-the-top boasting has caused problems for Lonzo.
Well, it seems as though the Ball family is facing a new problem after LiAngelo, along with two of his UCLA teammates, were arrested for allegedly shoplifting while in China. If convicted, the UCLA star could face up to 10 years in jail, all for a minor shoplifting crime.
LiAngelo’s actions certainly will not help the Ball family, which has already been criticized for how Lonzo’s father has handled his sons’ success at such a young age. The media will no doubt go after LaVar and even Lonzo because of the family connection.
LiAngelo Ball’s alleged shoplifting in China could land him in prison for 10 years https://t.co/QdaKDHV3Lf
— Lonzo Wire (@LonzoWire) November 8, 2017
Yahoo Sports writer Dan Wetzel spoke to a lawyer familiar with Chinese law, and the UCLA players could face a harsh punishment for shoplifting.
From Yahoo Sports:
If standard practices are applied, the three UCLA basketball players – including LiAngelo Ball – arrested Tuesday in mainland China under suspicion of shoplifting face between three and 10 years in prison if convicted, according a lawyer familiar with Chinese law who communicated with Yahoo Sports on the condition of anonymity because he doesn’t want to speak out about the Chinese government.
The three men could be detained for more than a month without American-style bail before local prosecutors even decide whether to press charges, according to William Nee, a Hong Kong-based researcher of the Chinese court system for Amnesty International.
Liangelo Ball has no business shoplifting in China. Lavar Ball about to roll up like pic.twitter.com/jq83drkVqT
— AlternativeFactsChi (@AFactsChicago) November 7, 2017
The next time Lavar sees LiAngelo Ball…pic.twitter.com/elG4NSuehM
— Devin Walker (@Devin_Walker5) November 7, 2017
Can’t make this stuff up. UCLA says it’s “cooperating fully with local authorities,” which is a foreign government. Yikes. Is a lawyer an extra benefit? https://t.co/HgM9OmgfXx
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) November 7, 2017
LiAngelo should have known better but this dumb decision could threaten not only his career at UCLA but any professional aspirations he may have. At the same time, we have to question why China would potentially seek such a harsh punishment, up to 10 years in prison, for a minor shoplifting charge.
Given Ball’s notoriety, it seems rather silly that China would want to hand down such a severe punishment. While Ball’s actions were stupid, China will likely face harsh criticism from American officials if a famous American is locked up for a decade.
I feel sorry for LiAngelo because his future is in doubt, all because he made a bad decision while in China. I don’t believe his father taught him to shoplift, but I do believe that the celebrity status placed on him and his brothers has hurt him.
At the end of the day, I have a feeling that China will back down and not give Ball jail time for his minor offense. While he may face some sort of punishment from UCLA, I hope the U.S. government will step in and try and smooth things over with Chinese officials.
Do you think the Chinese overreacted to this situation, or does Ball deserve to go to jail? Share your thoughts below!