The multifaceted career of LiAngelo Ball: From basketball to music and beyond
LiAngelo Robert Ball, also known as GELO, born on November 24, 1998, is an American personality with a diverse career, encompassing roles as a rapper and former professional basketball player. His journey has been marked by both high-profile achievements and unexpected turns, capturing national attention since his high school days.
Early Life and High School Basketball Career
LiAngelo Ball is the second son of LaVar Ball and Tina Ball (née Slatinsky), both former college basketball players. LaVar, standing at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m), played for Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles. From a young age, LiAngelo was immersed in the world of basketball, often playing against older opponents. By age four, he had begun working out and training, and at six, he was competing alongside his brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo. He also played flag football with his brothers.
Ball attended Chino Hills High School in California for four years. As a freshman, he played alongside his older brother, Lonzo. Ball helped Chino Hills reach its first-ever CIF Southern Section Open Division championship game. Chino Hills fell in overtime to Centennial High School at the Southern California Regional Division I final. As a sophomore, Ball was teammates with his brother, Lonzo, and his cousin, Andre Ball.
During his time at Chino Hills, LiAngelo achieved significant success, most notably as a junior when he, Lonzo, and LaMelo led the team to a state championship and national recognition. The Ball brothers' performance attracted national attention, further amplified by their father, LaVar Ball, who became a prominent media personality.
College Commitment and International Play
A three-star recruit, LiAngelo Ball committed to UCLA. However, a 2017 suspension for shoplifting in China led him to forgo college basketball. Instead, Ball signed with the Lithuanian professional team Prienai.
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Lithuania and the JBA
LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball arrived in Lithuania and were mobbed by the media at the airport. LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball made their Lithuanian basketball debut. In their second Lithuanian game, the Ball brothers failed to score. LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball started, and Vytautas snapped a 9-game skid with a 97-95 win at Siauliai. LiAngelo Ball hit 6 3-pointers, and LaMelo returned from injury in BC Vytautas' loss.
He later played in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league founded by his father.
Professional Basketball Journey
G League and Brief Stint with the Pistons
Before joining the G League at the end of the 2019-20 season, Ball played in the JBA. He was briefly signed to the Detroit Pistons in late 2020 but was waived before the start of the 2020-21 season. In 2021, Ball joined the Greensboro Swarm.
Workout with the Charlotte Hornets
In the summer of 2021, Ball was invited by his brother LaMelo to work out with his team, the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets allowed their players to bring in one workout partner.
Transition to Music
LiAngelo Ball transitioned from basketball to music. On January 3, 2025, Ball released his debut single "Tweaker" to viral success, initially previewed on a livestream with internet personality N3on. The remix of the song featuring vocals from Lil Wayne was released on February 7, 2025. Writer Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork pegs the track as inspired by 2000s Louisiana hip-hop, stating Ball "is putting out music that sounds like he wants to convince us he grew up crooning on the porches of Baton Rouge with Boosie and Webbie." The song debuted at No. "I was in the G League, That's $3K A Month"
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His debut hip hop single "Tweaker" (2025) charted in several countries, leading him to sign a multi-million dollar record deal with Def Jam Recordings.
Personal Life
In April 2023, Ball and reality television personality Nikki Mudarris announced they were expecting a child. Their son, LaVelo Anthony Ball, was born on July 19, 2023. The following year, the couple welcomed a baby girl, LaNiyah Nicole Ball, who was born on December 3, 2024. On February 8, 2025, after accusing Ball of ghosting and cheating on her, while abandoning their children, Mudarris confirmed the pair had broken up after a three-year relationship. A few weeks later, he married social media personality Rashida Nicole, with whom he has one child.
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