There was good news for UCLA basketball fans after three athletes detained in China for allegedly shoplifting from a store in Hangzhou while on an early season tour, were released and arrived home at LAX safe and sound.

The trio included LiAngelo Ball, the younger brother of LA Lakers 2017 first round pick, Lonzo Ball.

The fact that a member of the Ball family was caught up in this brought attention to the matter, but the timing of the shoplifting incident, which occurred the day before President Trump arrived in China for meetings with President Xi, may have made the biggest difference.

With China’s very strict criminal justice system, a matter which may result in a slap on the wrist back home, could result in serious jail time instead.

That likely would have been the case here due to the high value of the goods allegedly stolen and the fact that China’s justice system has a near perfect conviction rate.

These athletes could have been facing up to ten years in jail.

Enter President Trump.

Watch as I show you how the President secured the release of these three student athletes, using the "Art of the Deal", which was far more effective than all the efforts of professionals at the State Department would have been.

There was no wasting time with diplomats or using “official channels”, and with that, Trump did these young "knuckleheads" a real favour.