LiAngelo Ball has decided not to accept a contract offer from the London Lions of the British Basketball League to pursue a contract in the NBA G League, the 20-year-old announced on the latest episode of “Ball In the Family.”
“It probably sounds a little crazy to other people, but I think my best path to get to the league is to join the G League instead of the London Lions,” Ball said. “It’s a big decision, but I’m not nervous and I know that’s going to be the right role for me.”
Considering this episode was filmed some time in December, it’s always possible that he’s reconsidered, but according to Brandon Williams of Amico Hoops, LiAngelo and his camp’s focus remains on the G League:
“The people that I know close to that situation, from what is being told me to me, is that right now Gelo, he’s focused right now — he’s supporting his brothers Melo and Zo — there’s not a final decision that’s being made just yet. The plan, like I mentioned last time, is for him to get on with the G League. They want that avenue first,” Williams reported.
The NBA G League is approaching its final month of the regular season, so LiAngelo’s chances of getting picked up this season are slim-to-none. That means he’ll have to wait until the summer to chase a G League contract, which makes his chances of cracking a roster even smaller.
Before a G League teams consider LiAngelo, they’ll evaluate the players that go undrafted this summer. After they’ve done that, they’ll look to the players that are currently circulating the G League.
Unless LiAngelo extends his skillset beyond being a high-volume scorer, his G League dreams will remain just that.
If LiAngelo fails to gain any traction with a G League team this summer, expect him to be a part of whatever it is the JBA has planned this year.
