LaVar Ball, sons tried to 'destroy' Lithuanian team, coach says

Steve Gardner | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption LaVar Ball pulling LiAngelo and LaMelo out of Lithuania LaVar Ball has decided to remove his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo from Lithuania and return to Los Angeles next week with just two games left in the season for their team BC Vytautas.

It didn't take long for LaVar Ball and his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo to wear out their welcome in Lithuania, sending their team on what was described as a "rollercoaster ride" that ended in controversy.

The Big Baller patriarch's company sponsored the BC Prinai-Skycop team in the Lithuanian pro league for four months before he abruptly pulled out with two games remaining in the season.

LaVar Ball claimed differences with head coach Virginijus Seskus for the rift, but the team issued a news release on Thursday claiming Ball and his family were the real problem.

Ball Brothers former coach in Lithuania finally fires back:



“The most disappointing fact was that they had no inner drive to become better.” - Virginijus Seskus pic.twitter.com/TvdyyYcdme — Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 23, 2018

Seskus said the Ball brothers' talent was "nowhere near the level of the LKL (Lithuanian league), let alone the NBA."

Even more damning, "they had no inner drive to become better," he said.

LiAngelo averaged 12.6 points per game during the season. LaMelo averaged 6.5.

As things deteriorated, Seskus said the Ball family "started destroying the club, not paying out prize money to the Big Baller Brand tournament winners, etc."

In addition, the team said Ball withdrew his financial support and took back shooting machines that were presented to the team as gifts.

Seskus said the team has been able to survive despite being left without sponsorship.

However, he said there's a valuable lesson to be learned: "This season, we ... will give priority to professionals with great discipline and personalities."

Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner