LiAngelo Ball didn’t maintain again. On the BagFuel podcast, he laid it out plainly: his time within the G League wasn’t simply underwhelming, it was unsustainable, Complicated reviews. “I used to be within the G-League, that is 3K a month as a grown man… that don’t assist nothing,” LiAngelo mentioned, recalling his short-lived run with brutal honesty.
Whereas his brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo, carved out lanes within the NBA highlight, LiAngelo saved combating for a roster spot, bouncing between the G League and worldwide courts. However that $3,000 test shortly confirmed him simply how steep the climb was. For a participant already used to the visibility and branding energy of the Ball title, that type of paycheck felt extra like an insult than a reward.
What modified his trajectory? Music. “Once I obtained paid from music it wasn’t a tough choice,” LiAngelo defined. “I wasn’t considering like, ‘Rattling I gotta hoop.’”
From Bounce Passes to Bars
That pivot wasn’t some aspect hustle. It was a full dedication. His breakout monitor “Tweaker” caught hearth on-line, proving that his abilities might stretch past the hardwood. Labels observed. Quickly after, he signed a reported $13 million take care of Def Jam and Common Music Group, in line with Shams Charania. That included $8 million assured, a seismic leap from his G League days.
And the accolades adopted. LiAngelo snagged a spot on the coveted 2025 XXL Freshman checklist, becoming a member of a category of rising stars that despatched the message: this wasn’t a fluke.
Nonetheless, not each transfer hit its mark. His debut album, launched final month, didn’t chart on the Billboard 200 regardless of the viral momentum of his first single. It’s a reminder that music, like sports activities, comes with its personal highs and lows.
But, for a center Ball brother who spent years attempting to measure as much as NBA desires, this subsequent chapter has provided one thing completely different. No extra ready for a call-up. No extra bouncing between groups. Simply the mic, the message, and the cash to match.