Getty Image
According to a report from TMZ, LaVar Ball has chosen to pull his son LiAngelo off of the UCLA team after he felt the team unfairly punished the 19-year-old for his participation in shoplifting at three luxury stores in China.
Via TMZ
LiAngelo Ball will no longer be on the UCLA basketball team and, in fact, he will not be a student at UCLA … because his father, LaVar Ball, is removing him from the institution … TMZ Sports has learned.
As you know, LiAngelo was indefinitely suspended from the team after he stole from several stores during a trip to China. LiAngelo was placed on house arrest but was sprung after Trump and others went to bat for him.
We’re told LaVar believes the suspension was unfair, especially since the charges were dropped. LaVar’s people tell TMZ the famous dad thinks, “There’s no need to break down a kid’s spirit for making a mistake.”
Our sources say LiAngelo is not officially withdrawn from the school but he’s at home and will not return to UCLA.
LiAngelo was a freshman and never actually played a game for the team.
A family spokesperson added LiAngelo and Lavar appreciate UCLA for everything … despite the circumstances that led to the suspension.
LiAngelo was currently under an indefinite suspension by the team and there was growing sentiment that he should sit out the year for the shoplifting incident. As of now there’s not much information on the matter and We’ll have to wait and see what LaVar has to say about the situation.
Update:
Here’s what LaVar told ESPN.
Via ESPN
“He wasn’t punished this bad in China “We get back over here and the consequences were even stiffer than China. So basically they’re in jail here.”
<