Trump dunks on UCLA star's controversial father, says he should have left players 'in jail'
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Date: 2017-11-19

Trump dunks on UCLA star's controversial father, says he should have left players 'in jail



President Trump on Sunday responded to the father of one of the UCLA basketball players detained in China on shoplifting charges after the man snubbed the president’s successful effort to get the teammates released, saying, “I should have left them in jail."

The president responded after LaVar Ball, the outspoken father of UCLA player LiAngelo Ball, downplayed Trump’s effort.

Trump said while on his recent trip to Asia, at the same time the players allegedly shoplifted in China during a basketball tournament, that he had spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the matter.

"Who?" LaVar Ball later told ESPN. "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."

Trump tweeted Sunday: "Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!"

LiAngelo Ball, one of three UCLA players accused of shoplifting, thanked the president upon returning last week to the United States.

Freshmen Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday from Shanghai. They each thanked Trump during a press conference Wednesday about the incident.

The players were detained in Hangzhou for questioning following allegations, before the 23rd-ranked UCLA Bruins beat Georgia Tech in their season-opening game in Shanghai as part of the Pac-12 China game. The rest of the UCLA team returned home earlier.

Trump said Tuesday he had a long conversation about the three players' status with his Chinese counterpart.

Ball’s outspoken father, LaVar, whose eldest son, Lonzo, plays on the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers team, was in China at the time of the incident. He spent some time promoting the family's Big Baller Brand of athletic shoes.

Three UCLA basketball players have been suspended indefinitely following their shoplifting incident in China. The players apologized and thanked President Trump for his role in helping them return to the U.S. USA TODAY Sports

President Donald Trump directed a message at LaVar Ball on Twitter on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Ball downplayed the President's role in helping Ball's son, LiAngelo, and two other UCLA basketball players return to the United States safely after they were arrested in China for shoplifting.

"Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal," Trump wrote. "I should have left them in jail!"

The back-and-forth between Trump and LaVar Ball stems from a situation in Hangzhou, China, earlier this month. LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were arrested for shoplifting items, including sunglasses, from three stores while in the country to play a game against Georgia Tech.

While experts in Chinese law told USA TODAY Sports that the trio would probably not face severe punishment, Trump posted on Twitter that they were in line for "10 years in jail" before he intervened. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that he had spoken with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, about the situation on the players' behalf. The trio returned to the United States less than 24 hours later and apologized in a press conference Wednesday.

 Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!
9:42 AM - Nov 19, 2017
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Throughout the ordeal, LiAngelo Ball's outspoken father had been quiet. That changed Saturday, when he was asked about Trump's involvement by ESPN.

"Who?" LaVar Ball answered. "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."

LiAngelo Ball, Hill and Riley have been indefinitely suspended from the team.

After the players returned, Trump wondered on Twitter whether they would thank him for his intervention on their behalf. All three players, and UCLA coach Steve Alford, thanked him by name in the Wednesday press conference.

Trump then posted on Twitter on Thursday, telling the players "you're welcome" and "HAVE A GREAT LIFE," among other things.

LaVar Ball told ESPN that while he was pleased with how the situation in China was handled, he feels like it was overblown.