The LA Lakers selected the eldest of the Ball brothers, Lonzo Ball, as the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft for his elite playmaking and basketball IQ. However, what was supposed to mark the beginning of a superstar era turned into a frustrating, injury-riddled tenure that ended with his trade to the Pelicans for Anthony Davis in 2019.
The front office failed to capitalize on Lonzo’s local hype as he fell short of expectations. Looking back on that year, LaVar Ball is now giving his side of the story.
LaVar Ball Exposes Lakers’ Front Office Politics
On the latest episode of The LaVar Ball Show, Ball sat down with Gilbert Arenas and revealed how Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka made promises about drafting his middle son, LiAngelo Ball, but eventually backtracked.
“The political game is, we got this guy, black, bald head, talking all this smack, whatever…Gelo didn’t get drafted. Gelo was supposed to get drafted. Because Pelinka and Magic, we go in the same room,” shared LaVar Ball.
“They said, ‘We gonna keep the family together,’ and then when they drafted the other dude from Michigan, I said, ‘Oh, I get it. Pelinka, he’s [expletive] something because he’s the agent too… owes some favors… so that’s how my boy got left out.”
Lavar ball tells Gilbert arenas the nba is a political game magic Johnson and rob pelinka promised that the la lakers promised to draft gelo ball and they didn’t pic.twitter.com/1nrtfZkk5T
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) July 20, 2026
According to LaVar, team leadership asked what Lonzo needed to succeed, and he replied, “Draft my brother.” Despite the supposed promise, the Lakers didn’t keep their word.
“The reason Lonzo got real good, and the reason Melo got real good, is because of Gelo. And I already told Gelo this, ‘Son, the only way you get to lead… Lonzo by itself don’t have enough pull, Melo by itself don’t have enough pull. But two of them on the same team got enough pull to get the third one. That’s the only way you’re gonna get on there.’”
After LiAngelo’s arrest in China for shoplifting and the resulting UCLA suspension and withdrawal, his NCAA career ended. In 2018, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft but went undrafted. Following a turbulent career that included playing in overseas leagues, the JBA, and the NBA Summer League, he ultimately pivoted to music.
Under his stage name, G3, he released his debut single, “Tweaker,” in 2025 and signed a $13 million record deal with Def Jam Recordings.
Meanwhile, Lonzo’s move to the Pelicans in 2019 marked the beginning of a rocky journey defined by constant roster changes and season-ending injuries. He is currently a free agent after being waived by the Utah Jazz in February 2026.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason in a move that sent shockwaves across the league.
