# LiAngelo Ball (basketball player) arrested in China **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 8, 2017, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036 "2017-11-08T07:48:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/1 "2017-11-08T07:48:12Z")
I despise everything about the Ball family of basketball players. I still can’t believe the complete stupidity of LiAngelo Ball and two of his teammates who tried to shoplift at a Louis Vuitton store in China. I’m well aware that college basketball players aren’t admitted to school based on academics, but anyone over puberty should know that committing crimes in authoritarian countries is a really bad idea. > **[Report: Arrested UCLA players in China could face prison time - College...](https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/report-arrested-ucla-players-in-china-could-face-prison-time/)** > > Three UCLA freshmen, including LiAngelo Ball, could face stiff penalties if they are found to be guilty of shoplifting in China. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/2 "2017-11-08T14:38:57Z")
From the story: “LaVar [Ball] was expected to address media in a press conference in his hotel suite. But according to ESPN’s Arash Markazi, LaVar has opted not to do so because his counsel advised him not to, “due to the legal nature of the matter.”” I’m amazed that LaVar actually listened to his attorney. I guess he was convinced that the Chinese legal system isn’t impressed by his bluster. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/3 "2017-11-08T14:50:24Z")
Wasn’t this the same family that pulled their kid out of school so he could focus exclusively on his playing? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/4 "2017-11-08T14:55:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wasn’t this the same family that pulled their kid out of school so he could focus exclusively on his playing? The same. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/5 "2017-11-08T15:49:45Z")
I’m just thankful Lucille isn’t around to see this. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/6 "2017-11-08T16:32:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Chinese prosecutors enjoy a 99.2 percent conviction rate among those who are indicted. So you’re telling me there’s a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/7 "2017-11-08T17:21:09Z")
Guess Big Baller Clothing isn’t quite up to snuff yet, huh? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/8 "2017-11-08T19:56:30Z")
I can almost see it now: “The Chinese government announced today that it is letting LiAngelo Ball and his teammates go without having to serve any jail time. In a **completely unreleated** story, the government announced an endorsement deal between LiAngelo and Li-Ning sportswear.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/9 "2017-11-08T22:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **kayaker** : > > I’m just thankful Lucille isn’t around to see this. No, Lucille is a baseball bat. Completely different sport. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/10 "2017-11-09T00:10:10Z")
I’m a UCLA fan so that kinda biases me in a way here. The two kids arrested with Ball (Cody Riley and Jalen Hill) are both 4-stars and more important players than LiAngelo (who is the least skilled of the three Ball brothers and only recruited because of his brothers), but of course the Ball name gets the headlines. Very interesting to see how this plays out. It would seem rather stupid for LiAngelo, who drives a freaking Lambo, to be stealing stuff. But people steal just for the thrill or because they think they can get away with it, so who knows. Though it seems like both the UCLA and Georgia Tech players were summoned before the three UCLA players were arrested, so one wonders a bit about the identification (“it was the three black guys over 6’6”!) If they are guilty I hope UCLA just immediately drops them from the school no questions asked. At this point I’d be happy to cut bait on the Ball family. When he was the football coach, Rick Neuheisel kicked three guys off the teams who stole a laptop (including current Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson) so I think the standard is set. I’m kinda worried Alford and the other powers that might be may let them off with a suspension and some bullshit about how harrowing it was to be held in custody by the Chinese government. As for the “3 to 10 years in prison” thing I’ve read elsewhere that’s the punishment for robbery, not shoplifting, which usually just carries a fine. But I’m admittedly no expert in China criminal law. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/11 "2017-11-09T01:18:19Z")
Proving once again that ALL teenage (and just out of teenage) boys are knuckleheads. I will admit, in the interests of fairness, that some teenage girls also qualify for knuckleheadship, but boys are at 100% and I don’t see that changing (and guys, don’t try to argue this until you seriously think back over _your_ teenage years.) That said, they are out on bail and my guess is that they will get a fairly speedy trial, be found guilty, pay a fine and have their Visa’s revoked and get put on the next flight to the USA. what happens to their basketball careers depends on the integrity of the University (Ha!) and it’s athletic department (and again, Ha!). We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/12 "2017-11-09T01:28:15Z")
One thing that could be interesting is will the players have difficulty entering other counties should they be deported from China. If any of them make it to the NBA, they’d need to enter Canada on top of any regular season NBA games that the league might schedule outside of the USA. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/13 "2017-11-09T14:14:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m just thankful Lucille isn’t around to see this. Being accused of shoplifting in China totally sounds like it could be an episode of I Love Lucy. Of course it probably would just be a wacky misunderstanding. LaVar Ball, by the way, says “It ain’t that big of a deal.” > **[UCLA trio could face lengthy legal proceeding in China; basketball team moves...](https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ucla-ball-china-20171108-story.html)** > > The three UCLA basketball players questioned over shoplifting allegations in Hangzhou, China, could face a lengthy legal limbo depending on the actions of authorities handling their case, an expert in Chinese law said Wednesday. I’m sure it isn’t because LiAngelo is the least talented of his kids. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/14 "2017-11-09T15:16:13Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The same. Different kid though. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/15 "2017-11-09T15:24:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > No, Lucille is a baseball bat. Completely different sport. No, [Lucille is a guitar](https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&biw=1324&bih=969&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=_HIEWpycM4mE0wKRrpzoCA&q=lucille+guitar&oq=lucille+guitar&gs_l=psy-ab.3...0.0.0.4894.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.9etGgY5-Amw). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/16 "2017-11-09T18:40:10Z")
Another question: How long can UCLA continue to pay for the hotel room while Ball and his teammates await the results of the investigation and potential trial? I assume it wouldn’t be a violation of NCAA rules if the Ball family paid for the room if the Chinese choose to drag out the investigation and take the case to trial. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/17 "2017-11-12T22:00:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wasn’t this the same family that pulled their kid out of school so he could focus exclusively on his playing? Pulled out of school?!? How is that kid EVER supposed to get into college!!? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/18 "2017-11-13T00:37:01Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Pulled out of school?!? How is that kid EVER supposed to get into college!!? He’s being tutored just enough at home to be technically eligible for college. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/19 "2017-11-13T03:14:39Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Proving once again that ALL teenage (and just out of teenage) boys are knuckleheads. Maybe, but not all are dumb enough to shoplift in another country. My stupidity just took the form of thinking my high school social standing was remotely important, to the point that I didn’t say anything when my safety harness on a roller coaster didn’t work, because I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of my friends. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036/20 "2017-11-13T03:28:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No, [Lucille is a guitar](https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&biw=1324&bih=969&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=_HIEWpycM4mE0wKRrpzoCA&q=lucille+guitar&oq=lucille+guitar&gs_l=psy-ab.3...0.0.0.4894.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.9etGgY5-Amw). I dunno who Lucille is but she sure picked a fine time to leave him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liangelo-ball-basketball-player-arrested-in-china/801036.md?page=2)