Three UCLA players got arrested for shoplifting in China, and during their game against Georgia Tech, Bill Walton apologized on behalf of the human race.
UCLA’s first game of the post-Lonzo Ball era ended in a 63-60 win against Georgia Tech in China. However, the result was of little concern to anyone watching, as their season has gotten off to a rocky start before tip-off.
While they haven’t dealt with an FBI investigation, they still got in trouble with the authorities as LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were arrested in shoplifting charges. Although they were released from custody, they won’t be travelling back home with the team until the legal process is over.
Bill Walton was the color commentator for the UCLA game, and any time you place him in a foreign climate, the results are always spectacular:
Bill Walton apologizes in behalf of " the entire human race" for LiAngelo Ball and his teammates stealing sunglasses in China pic.twitter.com/O7VluvbRsU
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 11, 2017
Was that statement a gross exaggeration? Of course. People have committed much worse crimes in the past, and this is hardly the worst thing to happen to college basketball this season. Walton certainly makes a good point about how these players needed to represent themselves better in a new country, and that what they did was inexcusable. But this is probably the strongest condemnation you will ever hear against shoplifting.
LaVar Ball is probably one of those people who believes any press is good press, but even he must be upset with all this, too. Clearly, there’s a reason why someone who believes this much in his sons said that LiAngelo wouldn’t make the NBA. He’s still got a full season to prove him and NBA scouts wrong, but he’s already got off-field concerns working against him.
Next: Best college basketball player from every state
With 163 games to kick off the season, it was understandable if you didn’t catch all of them. But despite the late hour, the UCLA game was worth tuning into to hear Bill Walton on the microphone once again. He might be the best reminder that college basketball is back.
Add us as a preferred source on Google