In early December of 2017, 19-year-old LiAngelo and 16-year old LaMelo Ball signed one-year contracts to play with Prienai-Birstonas Vytautas (better known as BC Vytautas) of the Lithuanian – and less competitive Baltic – Basketball Leagues. As of February 1st, their contracts were guaranteed through the remained of what is turning into a lack-luster season for BC Vytautas; currently, the team is seated 10th in the Lithuanian League, with an overall record of 5-18.
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| LiAngelo (left) and LaMelo (right) signing their one-year contracts with BC Vytautas |
To play for BC Vytautas, the two younger Ball brothers had to sacrifice more than their residence in sunny California. LiAngelo, a freshman at UCLA, and LaMelo, a five-star recruit who was expected to join UCLA’s 2019 incoming class, had to surrender their NCAA eligibility, US media and sports exposure, and opportunity to create a “UCLA Dynasty” in order to play in Lithuania.
“I don’t care about the money… I
want them to go somewhere where they will play them together on the court at
the same time. The priority is for the
boys to play on the same team.”
(LaVar
Ball, The New York Times)
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| LiAngelo (left) and LaMelo (right) sporting their BC Vytautas jerseys |
While money does not seem to be
the driving force behind LiAngelo’s and LaMelo’s signings with BC Vytautas, is
their ability to play on the same team, one in a less well-known European Basketball
League, worth the prospects they have given up?
Check out the BC Vytautas Twitter Page to see what all the hype is about!
The situation that the Ball brothers are in is very interesting to me. They would not be the first Americans to play professionally in Europe before moving on into the NBA if their time playing in Lithuania is temporary. However, if the move becomes more permanent because of injuries or lack of success, the brothers could potentially become flops, forgotten by fast-moving US media markets. I think that it was not a good idea for the Ball family to abandon the NCAA, and that they will not achieve success in Lithuania.
ReplyDeleteBennett, I think you bring up an excellent point. One of the things that this decision really brings into question is whether the Ball family's motives for leaving the United States were short-term, or long-term. While they are basking in the fame and publicity now, it is not hard to argue that BC Vytautas and other teams in the Lithuanian and Baltic Basketball Leagues receive less media coverage than NCAA and NBA teams in the United States. It is very possible that regardless of how well the boys perform, they could easily fall out of the popular sports scene. Because of this, I agree with you that this was not a well-thought-out move.
DeleteBennet, although the Ball brothers may not have made the correct choice moving to Lithuania rather than playing in the NCAA, what a publicity move! Their dad is ensuring fame and money by making this move. The family has become extremely well known and this might just be a stunt in order to secure more publicity and profit for their new BigBallerBrand business. Lavar always talks about how he wants his sons to be successful NBA players but this move may have been more of a long term financial scheme then a way for his son's to have the best opportunity to succeed.
ReplyDeleteRyan Fincher
I agree that the move provided huge publicity for the family, and definitely increased their following both in the US and abroad. However, I see this move as a huge long-term risk for the short-term publicity that the family gains. The way that American media covers the NCAA and NBA could drown out what the Ball brothers do in Lithuania. It may be big news now when the brothers play great games, but I think that in the future coverage will dwindle in favor of big-name American programs that generate more fans.
DeleteFrom a publicity perspective, this allowed the BBB brand to go global. I would be very interested to see their financials before and after and see if sales abroad increased. The family was already make news in the states on a regular basis, but this has placed the brand in a new demographic. I assume more Europeans are following the brand and it is gaining more international coverage. It will be interesting to see what they decide to do when the contract ends.
Delete-alison
Ryan, I would definitely have to agree that the move has put the Ball family and the BigBallerBrand business in the spotlight, for now. Additionally, I admire your analysis of the move as a more of a financial scheme, rather than as one to lockdown success on the court; I had not thought of that before!
DeleteUltimately, I think what has made this decision so news worthy is the fact that they Ball brothers' move to Lithuania was not one that came with more money, more stability, or more future security. Both boys had set careers at UCLA, and while the move has allowed the brand to go global as Alison points out, publicity will only get the family so far.