The Ball family has been in the national basketball lexicon since 2017.
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It started with Lonzo Ball proving his prowess at UCLA. It transitioned to the introduction of the polarizing Lavar Ball on ESPN's First Take prior to the '17 NBA Draft, where Lonzo was the second-overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, and snowballed into LiAngelo Ball leaving the UCLA basketball team after shenanigans in China.
Now, LaMelo Ball is fully in the spotlight, and he's already accumulated massive wealth.
LaMelo Ball Basketball Career
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LaMelo LaFrance Ball played his prep ball at Chino Hills High School playing alongside his older brothers. As a freshman, he helped his team to a 35-0 record and secured the CIF Open Division state championship. He shared the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year award with teammate and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu.
As a sophomore, Ball went viral by draining a half-court shot two seconds into a game. He scored 92 points in a win over Los Osos High School — the second-most single-game points in California high school history — on February 7, 2017. He averaged 26.7 points and roughly 10 assists per game to earn MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first-team recognition.
Prior to his junior year, LaMelo left Chino Hills due to his father's disapproval of head coach Dennis Latimore. He and LiMelo signed with Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). He reportedly became the youngest American to ever sign a professional basketball contract.
Big Baller Brand sponsored several exhibition games for Prienai, forcing them to withdraw from the Baltic Basketball League. Ball scored a season-high 19 points complemented by six assists against Zalgiris on February 4, 2018. He finished the league season averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 assists in 12.8 minutes per game. The Balls left the team in April 2018 after Lavar, who played tight end for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football after being loaned from the New York Jets, criticized the team's head coach for his sons' lack of playing time.
LaMelo returned to the states to play for the Los Angeles Ballers of the short-lived Junior Basketball Association, a semi-professional league founded by Lavar. LaMelo averaged 39.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game. He was named a JBA All-Star and led LA through the playoffs to capture the JBA championship.
After the lone JBA season, LaMelo returned to high school competition for the SPIRE Institute and Academy in Geneva, Ohio. Due to LaMelo having played professionally, the prep school had to compete outside the jurisdiction of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Ball's experience as a professional basketball player caused several high-profile high school teams to cancel their matchups. He was ineligible for the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game due to his non-amateur status.
The point guard signed with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019. He showcased his improving game in Australia, registering two consecutive triple-doubles in the middle of the season and winning the NBL Rookie of the Year. He left the Hawks in January 2020 to prepare for the NBA Draft.
LaMelo headlined a group that tried to purchase the Hawks in June 2020. Former Philadelphia 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo ended up buying the team.
Ball intended to follow in his brothers' footsteps and play for UCLA, committing when he was just 13. His professional career and signature shoe — Big Baller Brand's Melo Ball 1 — created plenty of NCAA hoops to jump through had he chose to play.
LaMelo's journey ended up being irrelevant when the time came for him to play with the big boys. Although he was surely talented enough to be the first player taken in the 2020 NBA Draft, Ball slid to the Charlotte Hornets at three. What a blessing it turned out to be for the Michael Jordan led franchise. Ball proved he has all the makings of a superstar and silenced his doubters by having a remarkable first season in the league, where he took home the 2021 NBA Rookie of The Year Award. It doesn't matter who LaMelo is playing against, whether it be LeBron James or the Miami Heat. He always keeps a level head.
The Ball brothers, their mother Tina Ball, and Lavar star on the Facebook Watch reality show Ball in the Family. Lamelo's older brother Lonzo Ball is currently on the Chicago Bulls after suiting up for the Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans.
LaMelo Ball Net Worth
In the Hornets' win tonight, LaMelo Ball led both teams outright in rebounds, assists and steals.
Only players to do that at a younger age: Luka Doncic and Magic Johnson. (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/Y9gWfNsdNK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 13, 2021
The third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has a net worth of $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Not that surprising for someone who has over eight million followers on social media and has been in the national spotlight since he was 13.
The NBA player inked an endorsement deal with PUMA worth a reported $100 million before he even played a game. PUMA showed it's willing to take care of their guys, as LaMelo was flown out to the 2021 Summer League in Las Vegas on a private jet comped by the shoe brand. I have a feeling it won't be his last flight in a private aircraft.
The Puma Jet — the brand’s private plane for its athletes — is still one of the best endorsement perks out.
Here’s how LaMelo Ball pulled up to NBA Summer League: pic.twitter.com/qLYC0YCvt3
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) August 9, 2021
As one of the league's brightest young stars, LaMelo is on the precipice of raking in a whole lot more.
