LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball have made their debut in the Lithuanian basketball club they joined after leaving UCLA and Chino Hills High School respectively. The 19-year-old and his 16-year-old brother scored a combined 29 points during their first game with Prienai Vytautas, according to Reuters. And SB Nation reported 1.6 million viewers tuned in to catch it.
The league’s newly formed “Big Baller Brand Challenge,” named after dad LaVar Ball’s family company, saw the Balls play in a series of five friendly games meant to welcome the brothers to the European country. The first was during the siblings’ Tuesday, Jan. 9 premiere which was streamed on Facebook Live and the games will continue through Jan. 28.
Several Twitter users specifically praised the athletic prowess of the youngest Ball brother, LaMelo, whose oldest brother, Lonzo is back in the States playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Lamelo Ball is 16… Playing in a pro league. Making it look easy right now 👀 https://t.co/72s8qyKGVY
— Collin (@CollinJustin1) January 9, 2018
LaMelo Ball's first assist was actually pretty slick. #BallIsLife pic.twitter.com/gdSQiupkBS
— Joshua Sánchez (@jnsanchez) January 9, 2018
Certainly no questioning LaMelo Ball’s talent level. Seeing more of his court vision at this level. Super creative, instinctual facilitator. Distributes with either hand. Overall has a really smooth game just needs more discipline/defense and fewer 30-foot pull-ups.
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 9, 2018
LiAngelo, on the other hand, had a slip-up.
LiAngelo Ball bricked a layup. pic.twitter.com/UE3qUe1waK
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) January 9, 2018
But he still managed to hold his own.
https://twitter.com/MyNBAUpdate/status/950818869857275904
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