LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball have reportedly signed one-year contracts to play professionally this season in Lithuania, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.
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Harrison Gaines, the agent for all three Ball Brothers, told ESPN that LiAngelo and LaMelo have signed a one-year deal with Lithuanian team Vytautas. Expected to head to Lithuania in early-January.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 11, 2017
The club is known to be a lower level of competition in Lithuania and the two players will be the only two Americans on the roster. The move will figure to be much different than what the two players have experienced to this point as the coach and general manager do not speak very much English.
LiAngelo, LaMelo sign six-month deal on low-level Lithuania team with coach and GM that speak ZERO English. Club is MONTHS behind on checks, and I'm told Ball Bros can peak at $4000 total. Max. Might not even get it. Cluture Shock.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) December 11, 2017
LaVar Ball, the father of the Ball brothers, has said recently that he isn't concerned with how much money his sons will make. He wanted to find an international club that would take in both players and let them play to build their experience.
It was reported last week that LaVar withdrew LiAngelo from UCLA after he was suspended indefinitely by the university for his role in a shoplifting incident in China last month. Shortly after he withdrew LiAngelo, it was reported that LaMelo would not play college basketball and play overseas instead.
In international play, American players are held to a higher standard so the pressure could be on the Ball brothers to arrive in Lithuania and play well. The team will also give the two players some structure and experience as they begin their professional careers.
