The Big Baller Brand Challenge gets underway today, as Prienu Vytautas, the team that signed LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball, takes on Žalgiris-2 in Prienai, Lithuania. The game is scheduled to tip off at 1:30pm ET and will air exclusively on Facebook Live (live feed below).
Prienu Vytautas recently decided to withdraw from the Baltic Basketball League midway through their season in order to accommodate the "Big Baller Brand Challenge" which will consist of a series of five exhibition games intended to get the Ball brothers even more playing time. According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, each of these games will stream exclusively on Facebook Live.
The team that 16-year old LaMelo and 19-year old LiAngelo will make their debut against is Zalgiris 2 - the younger team of Lithuania's premier program. If interested in seeing how LaMelo and LiAngelo fare in their professional hoops debut against Zalgiris 2, check the feed below.
According to ESPN's Jeff Goodman, LaMelo and LiAngelo could also play in the team's Lithuanian league game on January 13th at Lietkabelis, but it will likely depend on how they handle their debut.
Other games in the Big Baller Brand Challenge will be played at Prienu Vytautas' between January 15-28, against five different Lithuanian ball clubs including Zalagris, BC Lietuvos rytas, Vytis, Dzūkija and Jonava.
According to the ESPN report, Prienu Vytautas expects the Ball brothers to generate about 100,000 euros ($120,000) in revenue for the team, including an undisclosed amount that Facebook is paying to show the Big Baller Brand Challenge games.