In a recent interview, LiAngelo Ball, brother of NBA players Lonzo and LaMelo, opened up about his 2017 arrest in China for shoplifting. The incident occurred while Ball was on a trip with the UCLA men's basketball team. He admitted to taking sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store adjacent to the team's hotel in Hangzhou.

Ball, now 26, expressed remorse for his actions, describing it as a lapse in judgment during a vulnerable period in his life. He acknowledged the wrongdoing and emphasized that he has not been in trouble since. He recounted the immediate realization of his mistake upon leaving the store, sharing his premonition of the impending consequences with his teammates.

At the time, then-President Donald Trump intervened, requesting assistance from Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the situation for Ball and his teammates, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill. Trump later publicly acknowledged his involvement and wished the players well.

Following the incident, Ball went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. He played professionally in Lithuania and the Junior Basketball Association, a league founded by his father, Lavar Ball. He later spent time in the NBA G League and signed brief contracts with the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, but has yet to play in a regular season NBA game. His brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo, currently play for the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, respectively.