LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball took a big step up in competition Saturday morning in their second basketball game in Lithuania and failed to score a point.
LiAngelo, 19 and LaMelo, 16 played sparingly for Vytautas in the team’s 95-86 road loss to Lietkabelis.
LiAngelo went 0-for-3 from the field in a little more than nine minutes. LaMelo played just over five minutes and was 0-for-4 shooting.
The Ball brothers combined for 29 points Tuesday in their Lithuanian debut in an exhibition Big Baller Brand Showcase game against a junior team comprised of teenagers.
Saturday’s game, however, represented their first official taste of professional basketball against a Lithuanian league squad. Lietkabelis entered the game in fourth place in the Lithuanian league; Vytautas is in last place.
LaMelo did slam home a highlight-reel dunk on a fast break, although it came just after the play clock hit zero to end the quarter.
Lamelo throws down a dunk pic.twitter.com/kR2tVqS6zg
— The Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 13, 2018
LaVar Ball was caught for a quick word after the game and his solution after Vytautas’ loss was simple.
“They need to play my boys together more,” Lavar said.
Just let LaVar coach the team 😱 pic.twitter.com/qDIvE94Wde
— Overtime (@overtime) January 13, 2018
The Ball brothers will play another Big Baller Brand Showcase exhibition game on Monday against the junior team from Lietuvos Rytas.