LiAngelo Ball closes book on China incident: 'I felt bad, but it's over now'

LiAngelo Ball used his time in Lithuania to boost his basketball skills and maturity after a shoplifting incident in China last December left many questioning his character.

After playing at the professional level for four months in a foreign land, Ball has taken a more disciplined, team-oriented approach. He was a productive member of Lithuanian club Vytautas Prienu, and he believes he's ready for the NBA.

"I'm huge on being a true team player," Ball told Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania. "I feel if you bond good with the people you play with, you will be successful. I made it a point to get to know my teammates in Lithuania and to try to win together. ... It's serious. They're not going to wait all day for you to click with teammates; they're going to somebody who can adapt quicker.

"I definitely learned from it. I also learned from the experience in China and I felt bad, but it's over now. I view it as a closed chapter in my life. It's about looking forward now to the NBA draft, and hopefully on an NBA team."

Ball's father, LaVar, removed him from UCLA after it was announced he would be suspended for the entire season after he and two other Bruins were arrested in China during a preseason promotional tour. The 19-year-old signed with Vytautas with 16-year-old brother LaMelo and appeared in 14 games for the club before declaring for the draft.

Ball averaged 12.6 points and 2.9 boards while shooting 41.5 percent on 3-pointers during his time in Europe.

He participated at the Professional Basketball Combine in preparation for the NBA draft after not being invited to the NBA Draft Combine earlier in May.

The 6-5 forward isn't expected to be drafted but has already scheduled private workouts with multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom his older brother, Lonzo, just completed his rookie campaign after being drafted No. 2 in 2017.