LiAngelo Ball, one of the three Ball brothers, was arrested in China in November 2017 during a team trip with the UCLA men's basketball program. While the term "went to jail" can imply a conviction and prison sentence, LiAngelo Ball was detained and arrested by Chinese authorities following allegations of shoplifting.
The Incident Involving LiAngelo Ball
In November 2017, LiAngelo Ball, then a freshman forward for the UCLA Bruins, was in Hangzhou, China, with his teammates for a season-opening game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai. Days before the scheduled game, LiAngelo Ball, along with two other UCLA players, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, were arrested by local police.
- Circumstances of the Arrest: The arrests stemmed from allegations of shoplifting designer sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store near the team's hotel in Hangzhou.
- Detention and Release: The three players were reportedly held at a hotel and then at a local police station. They were eventually released on bail after approximately 24-48 hours and ordered to remain in their hotel in Hangzhou. The incident drew significant international media attention, partly due to LiAngelo's prominent family, including his father LaVar Ball, and his older brother, Lonzo Ball, who was then a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Intervention and Resolution: According to sources, including ESPN's Jeff Goodman, high-level discussions occurred between U.S. and Chinese officials regarding the players' release. Following their return to the United States, LiAngelo Ball and his two teammates were indefinitely suspended from the UCLA basketball team. They later held a press conference where they apologized for their actions.
This incident did not result in a long-term jail sentence but involved a significant detention and legal process under Chinese law, which is a serious form of incarceration for a period, aligning with the intent of the question.
The Ball Brothers Overview
The Ball family is widely known for its three basketball-playing brothers, all of whom have pursued professional careers.
| Ball Brother | Notable Affiliation (at time of incident) | Role in China Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Lonzo Ball | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA Rookie) | Not involved |
| LiAngelo Ball | UCLA Bruins (College Basketball) | Arrested in China |
| LaMelo Ball | High School (Chino Hills) / Professional Basketball (Lithuania) | Not involved |
LiAngelo Ball subsequently left UCLA and pursued a professional basketball career overseas before joining the G-League.
