LiAngelo Ball’s hopes of hearing his named called during the NBA draft never came to fruition nor did he find a spot on an NBA Summer League roster. But despite heading into the draft with tempered expectations, the middle Ball brother was optimistic the Lakers would ultimately draft him.

The latest episode of Ball in the Family detailed that draft night for LiAngelo. LaVar had scheduled his JBA league opener to coincide with the NBA draft, so LiAngelo was in the crowd to support his brother, LaMelo. As the first round got underway, LiAngelo revealed that the Lakers had been talking to him that day. He was sure that either the Lakers or Suns would take him in the second round.

He was watching LaMelo’s game when the Lakers picked at No. 47. Upon learning that Los Angeles went with Kansas’ Svi Mykhailiuk, LiAngelo left his seat to watch the remainder of the draft from a back room. Mykhailiuk ended up being one of the Lakers’ breakout performers in Summer League.

The Big Day Back from their respective vacations, Denise and Lonzo Ball get down to the business of preparing for baby Zoey’s arrival. Meanwhile LaMelo Ball faces mounting pressure during his first game as an LA Baller for the JBA League as LiAngelo Ball endures disappointment after going undrafted. Posted by Ball In The Family on Sunday, September 2, 2018

The disappointment of going undrafted would sink in moments later when Phoenix passed on him at No. 59.

Having to reflect on what happened, LiAngelo thought his shoplifting arrest with UCLA in China might have played a role:

“It sucks I didn’t get drafted tonight. I guess it was the way I played. I guess. Or the (expletive) I did off the court. At this point, I’m just … I’m good.”

Still, agent Harrison Gaines and the rest of the Ball family were certain that LiAngelo would land on a Summer League team. When that didn’t happen, LaVar said that he was ready to go off. LaVar still stood by his prediction that all three sons would play for the same NBA team.