LaVar Ball Doesn't Think Donald Trump Helped Get His Son LiAngelo Back to the United States

With LiAngelo Ball back home, his father LaVar isn't ready to accept that Donald Trump helped in any way.

LaVar Ball attends Celtics/Lakers Summer League Game.
USA Today Sports

Image via USA Today Sports/Joe Camporeale

LaVar Ball attends Celtics/Lakers Summer League Game.

Just days after UCLA freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill held a press conference where they thanked Donald Trump for helping get them back to the United States, LaVar Ball told ESPN he isn't willing to accept that the president played a part in their return. "Who?" LaVar said, when asked about Trump's involvement. "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."

Ball, Riley, and Hill were arrested in China on Nov. 7 for allegedly stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store near the team hotel. The next day, the players were released after posting bail and agreeing to surrender their passports. Following the Bruins' 63-60 victory over Georgia Tech in Shanghai, the rest of the team returned to the States while the three guys were forced to stay in their hotel. This past Tuesday, the UCLA freshmen finally returned to the U.S. and it is believed that Trump spoke with Chinese president Xi Jinping about resolving the matter. 

"As long as my boy's back here, I'm fine," Ball told ESPN. "I'm happy with how things were handled. A lot of people like to say a lot of things that they thought happened over there. Like I told him, 'They try to make a big deal out of nothing sometimes.' I'm from L.A. I've seen a lot worse things happen than a guy taking some glasses. My son has built up enough character that one bad decision doesn't define him."

Latest in Sports