Stop the presses, the Atlanta Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association are no longer unbeaten. Last night at Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, the previously undefeated Ballers from Atlanta suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of LiAngelo & LaMelo Ball and the Los Angeles Ballers. The final: 170 to 123.
Once again, both Ball brothers were heavily featured in the victory as they combined for 96 points - although they took an absurd amount of shots to reach that total.
With Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott watching from court side, LiAngelo hoisted up 54 shots while his younger brother got up 35 of his own. LiAngelo finished with 48 points on 19-of-54 from the field, including 5-of-24 from three, and 16 rebounds, while LaMelo recorded a game-high 48 points to go along with 24 rebounds and 14 assists.
LiAngelo, 19, made his JBA debut with the LA Ballers last week after failing to find a spot on an NBA roster this summer. As the official JBA press release reads, "After NBA teams surprisingly passed on LiAngelo Ball, he went to work out and give the teams that passed him a show. After seeing the competitiveness of the JBA and the talent level, LiAngelo made the decision to join the Los Angeles Ballers along with younger brother, LaMelo, and was present for his first practice this past Saturday."
Of his move to the JBA, LiAngelo says, "I just want to win for the team. That's all I want to do, win. I'm trying to play ball and I'm trying to get better every day." His younger brother LaMelo added, "It's all business. If you're not playing hard, you get sent home. They brought in Gelo while he's been working out at home. This is the JBA, you have to come to play. I love playing with my brother, we have great chemistry. It feels good to play with him again."