Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

LiAngelo Ball Makes $8 Million Career Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 1:34 PM ET

Arguably, one of the hottest rappers in the game right now happens to be the middle brother of Chicago Bulls star Lonzo Ball and Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball.

LiAngelo Ball, who last played professional basketball for Mexico's Astros de Jalisco this past March, has burst onto the music scene. His song "Tweaker," which gives wriritng credits to him and Lonzo has been making its rounds on TikTok, and has also been featured in NBA and NFL locker rooms. It has also led to a possible new lucrative career for LiAngelo.

On Monday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the middle Ball brother inked a deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group that will seem guaranteed $8 million, and have a chance to make up to $13 million.

"LiAngelo Ball has signed a deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group, a representative from his label Born2Ball Music Group says," Charania wrote. "Sources said the deal is worth as much as $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and gives Ball full ownership of music and his own record label."

Whether or not this leads to him calling it quits on pursuing professional basketball is unknown, but he did make it clear back in Nov. that he still had aspirations of teaming up with his brothers. When appearing on Angel Reese's podcast "Unapologetically Angel" with his brother Lonzo, LiAngelo revealed he would love another G League opportunity to work his way into the NBA, after Reese asked about all three Ball brothers teaming up.

"That's what I'm trying to do," Ball said. "That's why I'm trying to get into the G League."

Ball did have a G League stint with the Hornets' affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, playing a total of 31 games across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In that time, he averaged 12.7 minutes per game, scoring 4.4 points and grabbing 1.1 rebounds per game.

With a huge opportunity in the music world, LiAngelo may need to shelve his hoop dreams to focus on his next big hit.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: